We will fight to the end, candidates tell Raila

Homa Bay Senate by-election candidates who have been under pressure to step down for ODM nominee Moses Kajwang’ on Friday vowed to stay put, openly defying a request from Cord leader Raila Odinga that they quit the race.

Mr Fred Rabongo of the National Agenda Party of Kenya and Maendeleo Democratic Movement’s Philip Okundi said they were ready to face Mr Kajwang’ at the February 12 poll and that no amount of pressure from the ODM leader would make them change their minds.

Mr Rabongo, who spoke at Sweet Waters Hotel in Rodi Kopany where he met councillors, was categorical that the will of the people would prevail, adding: “The people of Homa Bay know what they want; we want our supporters to elect a leader of their choice and not someone imposed on them.”

The former NSSF trustee described the nomination of Mr Kajwang, the brother of the late senator Otieno Kajwang’ who died in November last year, as having been conducted in a shoddy way.

Mr Okundi, who addressed a press conference in Homa Bay Town, said he had acknowledged Mr Odinga’s request but asked him to let “ the people decide.”

DROP OUT OF RACE

A decision to drop out of the race could only be made after consultations with supporters and was not a personal prerogative, he said. “Let them engage my supporters who have made a decision that I present myself for this election. I want to urge my supporters to stay away from such diversionary tactics by our competitors,” he said and asked his supporters to refrain from violence.
“I am concerned about security and would not tolerate any of my supporters engaging in violent activities no matter the provocation,” he said.

Mr Odinga on Thursday asked rival candidates to step down in favour of Mr Kajwang’ or face the voters’ wrath. The Cord leader, who was addressing his first public event since the burial of his son, Fidel, toured Homa Bay and dismissed critics who had cautioned him not to step there, saying he has a right to campaign in any part of the country.

“It is my right as the party leader to campaign for Moses Kajwang’ here in Homa Bay. If people like Phillip Okundi and Fred Rabongo really love me as they profess to the people, let them do what Mr Caroli Omondi did by stepping down for our candidate,” he told the crowd.

The ODM leader implored on the candidates to allow Mr Kajwang’ to go for the seat unopposed in order to show the unity of the Luo community.

Mr Odinga sought to exonerate himself from accusations of interference in the nominations that saw the two candidates jump to other parties in order to contest the by-election.

“This process involved the candidates who at some point indicated that they would work with whoever ODM selected after the delegates system failed; if they love me as they profess, they would not have left,” said Mr Odinga.

RECEIVING THREATS

On Friday, former UDM nominee in the Homa Bay senatorial by-election Silas Jakakimba, who has since stepped down, said he does not support any of the candidates in the race.

He told the Nation on Friday on the telephone that he would remain neutral in the by-election and that he had bowed out of the race after receiving threats to his life.

“Under the circumstances and after wide, painful consultations and deliberations with my team, I wish — with all humility and gratitude to my supporters from across the county — to withdraw my candidature from the current contest,” Mr Jakakimba said in a statement sent to Nation on Wednesday.

Maendeleo Party leader Joseph Hamisi said his party was a Cord affiliate and had nothing to do with the Jubilee coalition.