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Kidero divides opinion for supporting Okundi in Homa Bay mini poll


Governor Evans Kidero’s announcement that he supports former Rangwe MP Philip Okundi in the Homa Bay senatorial by-election has generated a political storm in his native Homa Bay County.

While some local leaders have supported his move to throw his weight behind a candidate not allied to his ODM party, other have termed Kidero’s stand as political suicide.

Kasipul MP Joseph Oyugi Magwanga wants Kidero to declare his link with Maendeleo Democratic Party, the party that has sponsored Mr.Okundi.

“I want to challenge the Nairobi Governor to come out clean and either confirm or deny rumours that he is the Patron of Maendeleo Democratic Party,” Magwanga said.

Magwanga also asked Rangwe MP George Oner and his Karachuonyo counterpart James Rege to resign from ODM and seek a fresh mandate on the Maendeleo Democratic Party.

“If Oner and Rege are as popular as they so claim, the best thing for them is to resign and seek fresh mandate on Maendeleo Democratic Party,” he said.

SEEK RE-ELECTION

But Magwanga’s perennial rival in Kasipul Mr. Charles Ongondo Were supported the stand by Governor Kidero.

Mr. Were warned Magwanga and his ODM colleagues to stop issuing threats to those with divergent opinions saying “very soon we will embark on collecting signatures from voters to have them recalled”.

He warned those planning to cause mayhem during the campaign trail to prepare for a showdown.

Homa Bay ODM Branch chairperson Mrs. Monica Amolo said by declaring their support for Maendeleo Democratic Party, both Dr. Kidero and two MPs have violated the Political Parties Act.

“Let the resign honourably and seek re-election or wait for the party to act,” she said.

Mrs. Amolo said nobody should cry foul when the party invoke the Political Party’s Act and crack the whip on errant members.

The ODM nominations for the county seat ended in acrimony last month but party leader and CORD Co-Principal Raila Odinga has already endorsed the candidature of Moses Kajwang’ to succeed his late brother Otieno Kajwang’ for the vacant position.