Why I dropped out of Homa Bay gubernatorial race - Mbadi
By Joshua Cheloti
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) national chairman John Mbadi has finally opened up concerning intrigues that led to his withdrawal from the Homa Bay gubernatorial race.
The Suba South Member of Parliament dropped out of the race about a week ago.
A few days later, the ODM party leader Raila Odinga announced that it had issued a direct ticket to Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga.
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ODM Chairman John Mbadi welcomes several MPs and MCAs to ODM at Chungwa House on Thursday, March 3, 2022. |Courtesy| Twitter|[/caption]
This is after consultations with other aspirants that were eyeing the seat.
Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero however objected to the Wanga’s direct ticket nomination and has since said he will be vying for the seat as an independent candidate.
In an interview with Nation, Mbadi says he opted out of the governor seat race in support of calls for the ODM party to support women leaders.
“I was informed by my desire to promote the national agenda. As you saw on Thursday, the party gave Ms Gladys Wanga the ticket and the reason was that the women constituency wanted ODM to support women leadership,” Mbadi said during the interview.
He also noted that he discussed with his party leader, Raila Odinga before making the decision which he noted would send a clear signal of the party’s commitment to champion for women leadership.
“I have supported my party leader since 1992 and he told me that he wants to work with me at the national level. I’m happy that I took the risk for the sake of Raila,” said the vocal MP.
This will be the first time since 2007 that Mbadi will not be seeking an elective seat.
The MP however says he has not yet bowed out of elective politics.
“I know my supporters, especially my constituents, are disappointed and angry because they have never imagined that there would be politics in that area without Mbadi in the mix,” he noted.
Asked to whether he was coerced into dropping out of the Homa Bay gubernatorial race, Mbadi said he voluntarily made the decision in the interest of the party.
He also noted that he would in future write a book detailing how emotional Raila was when he dropped out of the race.
“If I didn’t agree, I would have said so and I had options of either leaving the party or ranting and yelling and going away. I will one day write a book on how my party leader was even more emotional than me about the decision,” said the Suna South MP, who is now hoping to help the Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate win the country’s top seat in the August 9 poll.
ODM Chairman John Mbadi welcomes several MPs and MCAs to ODM at Chungwa House on Thursday, March 3, 2022. |Courtesy| Twitter|[/caption]
This is after consultations with other aspirants that were eyeing the seat.
Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero however objected to the Wanga’s direct ticket nomination and has since said he will be vying for the seat as an independent candidate.
In an interview with Nation, Mbadi says he opted out of the governor seat race in support of calls for the ODM party to support women leaders.
“I was informed by my desire to promote the national agenda. As you saw on Thursday, the party gave Ms Gladys Wanga the ticket and the reason was that the women constituency wanted ODM to support women leadership,” Mbadi said during the interview.
He also noted that he discussed with his party leader, Raila Odinga before making the decision which he noted would send a clear signal of the party’s commitment to champion for women leadership.
“I have supported my party leader since 1992 and he told me that he wants to work with me at the national level. I’m happy that I took the risk for the sake of Raila,” said the vocal MP.
This will be the first time since 2007 that Mbadi will not be seeking an elective seat.
The MP however says he has not yet bowed out of elective politics.
“I know my supporters, especially my constituents, are disappointed and angry because they have never imagined that there would be politics in that area without Mbadi in the mix,” he noted.
Asked to whether he was coerced into dropping out of the Homa Bay gubernatorial race, Mbadi said he voluntarily made the decision in the interest of the party.
He also noted that he would in future write a book detailing how emotional Raila was when he dropped out of the race.
“If I didn’t agree, I would have said so and I had options of either leaving the party or ranting and yelling and going away. I will one day write a book on how my party leader was even more emotional than me about the decision,” said the Suna South MP, who is now hoping to help the Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate win the country’s top seat in the August 9 poll. What's Your Reaction?
