Allies of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga have settled on a former government appointee to contest against incumbent Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyongo.
While attending a rally in Kisumu County on Friday, February 18, the team comprising Kisumu Senator Fred Outa, former Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma and former Kisumu Speaker Onyang'o Oloo endorsed the candidature of Ken Obura.
Obura resigned as the Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) in the Ministry of East African Community having been appointed to the position in 2017 by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The three allies, who had intuitively declared interest in the seat stated that they would campaign for Obura to clinch the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party ticket.
“We have decided to follow instructions from the party headquarters, that before we declare anyone we must sit and have a consensus.
"We have all agreed that the person who is going to be able to carry the flag is none other than Ken Obura," Outa announced.
However, they cautioned the party against issuing Nyong'o with a direct ticket stating that they would support another candidate in the event that the party primaries are not free and fair.
As per the Political Parties (Amendment), Bill 2021 that became law after its ascension by President Kenyatta, aspirants who lose the party primaries cannot contest as independent candidates.
On his part, Obura stated that he would begin his official campaigns immediately having resigned from government. He blamed governor Nyong’o for failing to deliver on his manifesto.
“I will start campaigns next week, door to door, without any vehicle to speak to our people on the need to change Kisumu leadership,”
The new move by the group ganging against Nyong'o poses a challenge to Raila Odinga and the ODM party even as they popularise the Azimio la Umoja movement.
Nyong'o was elected as governor in 2017 having vied on ODM party, trouncing his rival Ranguma who vied as an independent candidate, having served as the Lake City County's pioneer boss.
