Migori Governor Okoth Obado declares he will support Raila Odinga in 2017

Migori Governor Okoth Obado addressing the press at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi on August 17, 2014. Governor Obado is seeking to rejoin ODM ahead of the 2017 polls. PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI |

What you need to know:

  • Mr Obado defended his recent statement that he wanted to revitalize PDP saying it was not an attack on ODM leader Raila Odinga.
  • Mr Obado had earlier said he is not willing to leave PDP but is ready to support the former Mr Odinga’s bid for presidency in 2017.
  • However, in a strange twist of events, soon after Mr Obado resumed his seat after inviting Mr Odinga to address the mourners, a fracas erupted between him and Suba East MP Junet Mohammed.

Migori Governor Okoth Obado says he will support ODM leader Raila Odinga during the 2017 general elections.

Mr Obado, who was sponsored by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket after missing out on the Orange ticket ahead of last year’s elections, said he only quit ODM due to 'shambolic' nominations in the region.

He made the remarks on Saturday during the funeral of Nyatike MP Edick Anyanga’s mother.

Mr Obado defended his recent statement that he wanted to revitalize PDP saying it was not an attack on ODM leader Raila Odinga.

He claimed he joined PDP because of ‘shambolic’ nominations in the region.

“Past nominations have faced many challenges and I am afraid the process may not be free and fair even in 2017,” Mr Obado said.

“I want to tell Mr Odinga that ODM nominations in Migori will not be free because some politicians claim they already have nomination certificates,” he added.

DITCH PDP
But ODM leader Raila Odinga told Mr Obado to leave PDP if his loyalty and support is genuine.

“Mr Obado cannot claim to support me when he is still in PDP, a party that is currently allied to our rival,” Mr Odinga said.

“PDP was in Cord prior to the 2013 polls but its party leader Omingo Magara later joined Jubilee when it formed a government. PDP is therefore not with us,” he said.

“I want to tell the governor that if he is really genuine that he wants to support me, let him do it in ODM.”

Mr Obado had earlier said he is not willing to leave PDP but is ready to support the former Mr Odinga’s bid for presidency in 2017.

However, in a strange turn of events, soon after Mr Obado resumed his seat after inviting Mr Odinga to address the mourners, a fracas erupted between him and Suba East MP Junet Mohammed.

A visibly irritated Mr Mohamed attempted to slap the governor but was restrained by host MP Anyanga and Suba’s John Mbadi.

The cause of the bitter exchange between the two could not be immediately established.