Raila defends Wanga direct ticket

ODM leader Raila Odinga has defended the party's decision to issue Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga a direct ticket to contest the county's top seat in the August 9, 2022, General Elections. The former premier stated that the decision was arrived at after a consultative meeting with all the ODM aspirants who were eyeing the seat in the upcoming general polls. Speaking during the burial of former Kenyan ambassador to Qatar Paddy Ahenda at Nyaore village in Homa Bay County, Odinga stated that he called upon all the leaders eyeing the county's top seat to agree on a single candidate among them to avert the political tension in the region. [caption id="attachment_15980" align="alignnone" width="1280"] From left: Ex-MP Oyugi Magwanga, Homa Bay Woman Rep Gladys Wanga, ODM Leader Raila Odinga, and Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti during a meeting on Thursday, March 31, 2022. |Courtesy| ODM Twitter|[/caption] The former Prime Minister noted that the leader voted for Wanga and Magwanga to fly the ODM ticket in Homa Bay County. Incumbent Governor, Cyprian Awiti stated that all leaders from the region eyeing the gubernatorial seat were invited to the meeting that settled on Wanga. He added that former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero who is also eyeing the Homa Bay county seat was invited to the meeting but did not attend. The governor noted that the party resorted to consensus for the ODM ticket in a bid to foster peace in the county.