Obado’s move to ODM excites crowded race for county chief

The recent defection of Migori Governor Okoth Obado from People’s Democratic Party to the Orange Democratic Movement has changed the political dynamics in the county.

The move now means that all those aspiring to become the region’s next governor after the 2017 General Election will square it out in the Orange party.

Previously, Mr Obado’s opponents had capitalised on the fact that being a member of PDP, he was part of the Jubilee coalition, which the region overwhelmingly voted against in the last elections.

He was thus branded the Jubilee point man in the region, a claim he has consistently denied.

PDP, whose chairman is former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara, was previously in Cord but has since jumped ship to the government side.

At some point last year, Mr Obado mulled over the idea of becoming the leader of the party that sponsored him but this has since changed.

The trained secondary school teacher and former director and chairman of the defunct Kenya Sugar Board is now set to face a crowded field that includes former Energy minister Ochillo Ayacko, businessmen George Oywer, Peter Jobando, Mark Nyamita, Mrs Anne Omodho Anyanga and former Sony Sugar Company Managing Director Paul Odola for the ODM ticket.

It is believed that in Luo Nyanza, an ODM ticket guarantees one at least 50 per cent chance of victory in the elections. This perhaps explains why nearly all serious contenders in the region are seeking the Orange party blessings.

Although Mr Obado defeated ODM’s Prof Akong’o Oyugi in the last elections, his victory was by a very narrow margin - of less than 200 votes.

Mr Obado first contested in the ODM primaries but jumped ship to PDP after the nominations were marred by claims of irregularities.

“I have now defected officially to ODM and those who linked me to Jubilee in a bid to gain ground are in danger. I am going to seek ODM ticket in the primaries,” the governor announced at the Migori stadium two weeks ago where he was received by party leader Raila Odinga.

“I am now firmly in ODM and nobody is going to shake me…I will clinch the ticket because I am popular and will eventually recapture my seat…voters are with me,” he asserted during the homecoming prayer rally of Suna East MP Junet Mohammed.

I WILL DEFEAT HIM
Mr Odinga said: “We are going to conduct nominations that reflect the will of the people and in areas where disputes will arise, we will repeat the exercise many times until all aspirants are satisfied.”

Mr Odinga further clarified that he did not have preferred candidates in the forthcoming contest saying “the people you give me will be my candidates”.

Although Mr Obado has the advantage of incumbency, his opponents are already spoiling for a big contest, plotting on how to unseat him.

“I know I am equal to the task. I stand for real change and good governance that people are looking for,” said Mr Ayacko.

“I want to bring fresh leadership that is responsive to the needs of the people. I want to improve infrastructure and the living standards of our people beside ensuring equity in the distribution of resources,” said the former Rongo MP, a trained lawyer.

Mr Ayacko further dismissed the governor’s defection to ODM terming it inconsequential.

“It is his failure to perform on any measurable front that will be his main undoing. There is nothing much to show for the public monies he has received to run the county government,” he said.

He added: “The road network, agriculture production, name it, have all collapsed under his watch. I am confident of defeating him. Migori people deserve a better and more accountable leadership than he is offering. I have the skill, training, education and experience to transform Migori to a model county.”

But the governor differed saying his development record would give him easy victory.

According to him, some of his achievements include the tarmacking of the four-kilometre ring road in Migori Town at a cost of Sh180 million.

The county is also tarmacking another stretch between Uriri and Ndhiwa that will cost close to Sh1 billion.

Several murram roads in the eight sub-counties have also been improved at a cost of Sh1.5 billion since he assumed office.

The water department recently acquired a fully equipped drilling rig at a cost of Sh48 million, which is expected to reduce the cost of drilling.

TIGHT AFFAIR
He further said more than 10 new polytechnics had been built and teachers recruited to target students who fail to join secondary schools.

“We have also started an annual Sh80 million bursary scheme targeting poor but bright students,” he said.

The governor has also embarked on construction of 17 fresh produce markets throughout the county. Most of these markets have been completed.

The county public service board is in the process of recruiting more than 200 medical workers to be posted to various health facilities to address staff shortfall.

The Migori stadium is also under renovation at a cost of over Sh30 million to make it more “spacious and friendly”.

Mrs Anyanga said she was confident of victory.

“I will bring honest leadership where everybody is treated equally and expectations of people are met. Poverty and unemployment will be my biggest enemies,” she said at a past function.

The choice of running mate will also determine one’s victory or failure with reports indicating that the candidates are likely to pick the deputies from the minority Kuria community, so as not to lose out on the 80,000 votes from Kuria East and West sub-counties.

A political observer, Mr John Oloo, says the Migori gubernatorial contest will be a tight affair.

“The aspirants have deep pockets and are very aggressive. We will see a competition that will be fought in the air and on the roads. It’s going to be a very interesting race to watch,” he says.