Kidero protests decision by ODM to hand Wanga a direct ticket
By Peter Ochieng
Former Nairobi governor Evans Odhiambo Kidero is not happy with the decision by ODM Party to hand his competitor a direct ticket.
The businessman cum politician, has been rattled after Homabay County Women representative Gladys Wanga was handed the ODM ticket for the County's gubernatorial contest, before nominations are held.
"Homa Bay people have been once again denied an opportunity to choose their preferred ODM Party candidate for gubernatorial seat for the August 9th 2022 general elections," Kidero said in a public statement issued on Thursday, March 31, 2022.
[caption id="attachment_15979" align="alignnone" width="1280"]
From left: Ex-MP Oyugi Magwanga, ODM Leader Raila Odinga, Homa Bay Woman Rep Gladys Wanga, and Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti during a meeting on Thursday, March 31, 2022. |Courtesy| ODM Twitter|[/caption]
His statement came shortly after ODM party leader Raila Odinga, announced that all the Homabay gubernatorial aspirants had shelved their ambitions in support of Wanga, as the party's candidate in the gubernatorial race.
He said former Kasipul Member of Parliament Joseph Oyugi Magwanga who was among the aspirants, was unanimously nominated as Wanga's running mate.
“Out of the seven contestants who were here, they’ve all agreed to step down and back Gladys Wanga as the party candidate in the Homa Bay County gubernatorial race. In the same spirit, they’ve also nominated her running mate as Oyugi Magwanga,” said the former Prime Minister.
“There are those aspirants who have been running for the governorship position in Homa Bay County. They have been having a meeting and invited us as party officials to come and have consultations with them. They’ve had very extensive consultations, at the end of which an agreement has been reached by way of consensus.”
The announcement came after a meeting at a Nairobi hotel. Kidero denies having been invited for the meeting.
"Seven people who met in a hotel in Nairobi cannot decide for the over one million residents of Homa Bay County. Their intentions are well known. I was neither informed nor invited to this meeting where the sovereign powers of Homa Bay voters were undermined. We should have been left to proceed to the nominations on April 14th 2022 as was scheduled," he said.
He promised to use other means to be on the ballot on August 09, 2022.
"As a son and a registered voter in Homa Bay County I will pursue alternative avenues to offer the voters yet another opportunity to elect a leader of their choice on August 9th 2022. My focus is to see Homa Bay County progress from its current status to a level where the residents can enjoy the fruits of devolution."
Kidero was elected the first Nairobi County governor in 2013, before losing to Mike Mbuvi Sonko in 2017. Sonko was replaced by Ann Kananu, after he was impeached in 2020.
From left: Ex-MP Oyugi Magwanga, ODM Leader Raila Odinga, Homa Bay Woman Rep Gladys Wanga, and Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti during a meeting on Thursday, March 31, 2022. |Courtesy| ODM Twitter|[/caption]
His statement came shortly after ODM party leader Raila Odinga, announced that all the Homabay gubernatorial aspirants had shelved their ambitions in support of Wanga, as the party's candidate in the gubernatorial race.
He said former Kasipul Member of Parliament Joseph Oyugi Magwanga who was among the aspirants, was unanimously nominated as Wanga's running mate.
“Out of the seven contestants who were here, they’ve all agreed to step down and back Gladys Wanga as the party candidate in the Homa Bay County gubernatorial race. In the same spirit, they’ve also nominated her running mate as Oyugi Magwanga,” said the former Prime Minister.
“There are those aspirants who have been running for the governorship position in Homa Bay County. They have been having a meeting and invited us as party officials to come and have consultations with them. They’ve had very extensive consultations, at the end of which an agreement has been reached by way of consensus.”
The announcement came after a meeting at a Nairobi hotel. Kidero denies having been invited for the meeting.
"Seven people who met in a hotel in Nairobi cannot decide for the over one million residents of Homa Bay County. Their intentions are well known. I was neither informed nor invited to this meeting where the sovereign powers of Homa Bay voters were undermined. We should have been left to proceed to the nominations on April 14th 2022 as was scheduled," he said.
He promised to use other means to be on the ballot on August 09, 2022.
"As a son and a registered voter in Homa Bay County I will pursue alternative avenues to offer the voters yet another opportunity to elect a leader of their choice on August 9th 2022. My focus is to see Homa Bay County progress from its current status to a level where the residents can enjoy the fruits of devolution."
Kidero was elected the first Nairobi County governor in 2013, before losing to Mike Mbuvi Sonko in 2017. Sonko was replaced by Ann Kananu, after he was impeached in 2020. What's Your Reaction?
