Homa bay: ODM will not field a presidential candidate in the next year’s General Election and will instead back President Ruto’s re-election bid, Party leader Oburu Oginga has declared. Oburu made the revelation during a fundraiser at Chiga Catholic Church in Homa Bay Town Constituency, noting that negotiations for a pre-election agreement with the President’s team were now complete.
According to Kenya News Agency, ODM party elected leaders in the region have been telling their supporters to wait for the direction that Oburu will give for the party. The leaders said they had given Oburu the mandate to negotiate with leaders from other political parties for a pre-election coalition agreement ahead of the polls.
Oburu stated they had scrutinized the track record of various presidential aspirants and found all of them except President Ruto wanting. ‘I want to make it official that ODM will not field a presidential candidate in the next year’s general election. Instead, we are going to support President Ruto to be elected again for a second term,’ he said.
He noted that Ruto had shown statesmanship by forming a broad-based government and incorporating ODM members into his administration, adding that it was imperative for them to reciprocate. ‘We didn’t vote for this government but we were incorporated through the backdoor because Ruto loved us,’ Oburu said.
Oburu urged Nyanza residents to register as voters in large numbers to enhance his strength in power-sharing agreements. ‘This time we are going to form the next government officially through the front door. But Ruto is going to ask me the number of voters from my backyard. Register as voters in large numbers to give us strength,’ Oburu said.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo urged Nyanza residents to support President Ruto to enhance the implementation of development projects in the region. He argued that Ruto’s administration had initiated development projects equitably across the country. ‘Previous regimes had discriminated against Nyanza. But today there’s development in Nyanza as well as other regions in the country,’ Dr. Omollo said.
The PS urged youths to avoid being used by politicians as goons. ‘If you don’t like any political leader, don’t attend his meetings,’ Dr. Omollo added.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga encouraged Nyanza residents to work together under Oburu Oginga, noting that unity will enable the community to have a voice in sharing power. Her sentiments were echoed by Homa Bay Town Constituency Member of Parliament Peter Kaluma, who emphasized that unity would help negotiate power.
Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang advised Nyanza residents to shun tribal leaders in the formation of the next government. ‘Let’s avoid tribal leaders as Ruto has proved inclusivity by implementing development in our region,’ Kajwang said. He criticized Siaya Governor James Orengo for declaring himself the de facto ODM leader. ‘There is nothing like a de facto ODM leader. We have only one leader, Oburu Oginga,’ Kajwang said.
