Azimio Kisumu campaign secretariat has banned Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Senator, Fred Outa, from attending the coalition's rally to be held at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium.
Speaking during a press conference on Wednesday, August 3, Azimio's secretary for Kisumu, Joel Oron, accused Outa of blackmailing the ODM party leader and planning to disrupt the meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 4.
“Good people of Kisumu county are deeply concerned by the utterances by Kisumu Senator during a campaign rally in Manyatta on Sunday, July 31, 2022, in regards to the forthcoming of Raila Odinga. It's disconcerted that Outa is going to mobilize supporters of MDG and independent candidates to embarrass our party leader and his guests during his tour of the region on Thursday,” Oron stated.
The Secretary alleged that the Senator is mobilizing Movement for Democracy Growth (MDG) supporters and all independent candidates to heckle the Azimio flagbearer during the rally if he advocates for ODM six-piece voting pattern.
The former Premier has been advocating for a six-piece voting pattern for ODM candidates in his perceived strongholds as a way of consolidating more numbers in the County Assemblies, the National Assembly and the Senate.
The six-piece voting pattern has caused anxiety in the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party, with a section of leaders arguing that it would affect Raila's win.
Raila and his troops have constantly argued that his Nyanza backyard should adopt the six-piece voting, arguing that they had left the other parts of the country to the coalition's affiliate parties.
The increasing tension between Raila and the Kisumu Senator started after Outa lost in the party primaries to Senior Counsel Tom Ojienda.
The Azimio team now says that Outa should not attend its rallies or go anywhere closer to the venue that will host Raila Odinga.
“I am telling Outa to stop it and he should not step foot to where Raila Odinga will be on August 4th,” one of the officials stated.
Outa won the senatorial seat in 2017 after teaming up with then Senator and incumbent governor, Prof Anyang’ Nyon’go. The two, however, fell out after their first year in office, with Outa accusing the governor of betrayal.
The Azimio flagbearer has been holding a series of rallies in Kisii and Western Kenya in a bid to solidify his support six days to the election.
He will face off with Kenya Kwanza's William Samoei Ruto when the country goes to the polls on August 9.
