Campaigns intensify ahead of Siaya vote

Leaders of political parties eyeing the Siaya governor’s seat and their lieutenants will hold a series of rallies this weekend as campaigns hit fever pitch ahead of the Thursday by-election.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga led a team of Cord principals to the county on Friday to drum up support for Cornel Rasanga of ODM.

Mr Rasanga will on Thursday face off with his political arch-rival William Oduol of the National Agenda Party of Kenya (NAP-K).

Mr Rasanga told Sunday Nation that the coalition is relying on county representatives to woo supporters.

“We have engaged the county representatives to rally grassroot support. They are going to every door step,” said Mr Rasanga.

Mr Rasanga urged the people of Siaya to turn out in large numbers and prove the court wrong.

“I want to tell the Siaya electorate to vote for me to denouce their stolen victory,” he said.

Mr. Rasanga, who lost a petition challenging his election, says he is keen to recapture the seat to continue the programmes he had started.

“If the people of Siaya elect my opponent, they will be the losers because the programmes will not be completed,” he said.

“The county government had established importage linkages with development partners during the short period I was in office,” Mr Rasanga said.

BANKING ON ODINGA'S SUPPORT

He is also banking on Mr Odinga’s support to clinch the seat.

On Friday, Cord governors held rallies in Sigomere, Mageta Islands and made stop overs at Aram in Rarieda Constituency.

Ugunja MP James Wandayi said the Siaya gubernatorial seat is crucial to ODM, and the six MPs from the county will ensure voters turn out in large numbers on October 17.

Mr Oduol, who successfully petitioned againt Mr Rasanga’s election, is hopeful of clinching the seat. He, too, has waged a door-to-door campaign and is urging voters to elect a leader based on his ability and not the party.

“The electorate are choosing a leader for Siaya, not a party,” said Mr Oduol.

He said the county executive committee appointed by Mr Rasanga was not inclusive and urged Siaya voters not to make the mistake of returning the cronies of maladministration to power.

“For the first time, Siaya County returned 100 million shillings to the Treasury and also presented an unbalanced budget disapproved by the Commission of Revenue Allocation,” he stated.

The NAP-K candidate says he lost the March 4 election because of the contest between Mr Odinga and President Kenyatta.

“I am telling the people of Siaya that the vote is between William Oduol, Cornel Rasanga and Noah Winja, but not Raila and Uhuru, as is being peddled by my opponents,” he said

The third contestant, independent Noah Migudo Winja, is asking Siaya voters to elect him because he is the ‘safe pair of hands’ to manage the resources of the county.

“My competitors have been bitter rivals since the last elections. If either of them wins, he will not deliver because he will face a lot of criticism, but if you chose me I will incorporate all their ideas to grow Siaya,” said Dr Migudo.

As the polling date nears, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is asking candidates and electorate to uphold the law.

IEBC chief executive James Oswago said the commission will use the same voter register and polling stations used on March 4.

“We are ready for the by-elections that will be held next week; all the necessary materials are in place with only last minute preparations are on-going,” he said.