Raila drums up support for Kajwang’

What you need to know:

  • “I do not expect Mr Odinga to go begging for votes anywhere in Luo Nyanza. Let us allow him to mourn in peace by voting for the ODM candidate,” Mr Midiwo said.
  • The candidates are from the United Democratic Movement (UDM), National Agenda Party-Kenya (NAP-K), all affiliated to Cord, among others. There are more than 331,690 votes in Homa Bay.
  • Mr Odinga seems to have used the same script he applied when Kajwang’ died last year to silence dissent in ODM. That was the time he unveiled the new leadership of the party, when many expected him to take a break from politics, and asked party members to show commitment in memory of the late lawmaker.

Cord leader Raila Odinga used the burial of his son Fidel Saturday to drum up support for the ODM candidate in the Homa Bay Senate race.

Aware of the emotional importance the move would have, Mr Odinga related the death of former Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang’ to that of Fidel and said his Mr Moses Kajwang’ would be a perfect fit for his brother’s shoes.

“Kajwang’ is not gone; he is here with us,” Mr Odinga told mourners as he held Mr Kajwang’s hands.

Mr Odinga seems to have used the same script he applied when Kajwang’ died last year to silence dissent in ODM. That was the time he unveiled the new leadership of the party, when many expected him to take a break from politics, and asked party members to show commitment in memory of the late lawmaker.

Speaking earlier at the funeral, the deputy minority leader of the National Assembly and Mr Odinga’s cousin, Jakoyo Midiwo, asked Homa Bay residents to spare Raila the agony of having to go there to drum up support for Mr Kajwang’.

BEGGING FOR VOTES

“I do not expect Mr Odinga to go begging for votes anywhere in Luo Nyanza. Let us allow him to mourn in peace by voting for the ODM candidate,” Mr Midiwo said.
This comes hot on the heels of outrage from other candidates who are interested in the seat.

The candidates have vowed to continue their hunt for votes in the county to wrestle the seat from the Orange party.

The candidates are from the United Democratic Movement (UDM), National Agenda Party-Kenya (NAP-K), all affiliated to Cord, among others. There are more than 331,690 votes in Homa Bay.
The Cord aspirants’ defiance over the coalition’s agreement that they shelve their bid for the Homa Bay seat has raised the stakes for ODM in the February 12 by-election.

But active campaigns in the county have taken a break to honour Fidel Odinga, who died January 4 and was buried Saturday.

It is expected that campaigns will resume in the coming days.

In his response to the Cord leaders’ plea to support Moses Kajwang’, UDM nominee Silas Jakakimba remained defiant. He said the move to hand Mr Kajwang’ the ODM ticket was ill-advised.

Mr Kajwang’ said people of Homa Bay should not be misled any longer, adding that the race was between ODM and Jubilee.