A look at Migori County Gubernatorial race

The race for Migori County gubernatorial seat is becoming a two horse race between incumbent Okoth Obado and former Rongo MP and Cabinet Minister Ochilo Mbogo Ayacko.

Other aspiriants in Paul Odola and Anne Anyanga are like observers and may wither out to get a compromise running mate position.

Ochilo Ayacko hails from Awendo Sub-county that is dominated by sakwa clan while his challenger the current Governor Okoth Obado hails from Kanyamkago clan of Uriri Sub county.
 
The other challenger Eng Mark Nyamita has withdrawn from the Gubernatorial race shifting focus to the Uriri parliamentary seat currently occupied by John Kobado.

It is believed that Nyamita who hails from central Kanyamkago and not a native of the area dropped out from the race in support of Obado.

Atleast 25% of Uriri residents are not natives and decided that they will back Obado who is from kanyamkago and in return Obado gets their backing.

This means the split vote that was evident if Nyamita vied is now out of question with Uriri currently locked in favour of the incumbent.

For Awendo where the other challenger, former Energy, Sports Minister Ochillo comes from it will be a ride for Ochillo, however, the incumbent has tried to consolidate some votes from the area with the massive development done since he was elected.

The Awendo Sub-county Hospital has a modern theater on its name with plans to have it elevated to a county Hospital in top gear.

Some of the Awendo residents believe that Obado is still the man to beat owing to his massive development in the area with others questioning Ochillo's capability when given the chance to head the county. The say he failed as both energy and sports minister.

Perceived battlegrounds are neighbouring Rongo and Nyayike while the swing votes epicenter will be at the county headquarters of Suna.

Both the two Kuria sub counties will however vote for whoever picks the right running mate from their area.

The last elections saw the incumbent Okoth Obado floor ODMs Akongo Oyugi garnering 90% of the votes from the two kuria sub-counties.

Akongo 's running mate was Anyanga Who is rumoured to be eyeing a running mate position from one of the camps.

Obado 's development records can not be compared to any other Governor from the four luo counties and thus earning the nickname Sirikal Matiyo which means "working governor. "

Migori County is the only county that voted a Governor from one of the coalition parties and not ODM. Obado beat his closest challenger Akongo Oyugi on a PDP ticket after shambolic nominations.

The ODM nominations will be the epitome of the politics surrounding the elections of the two front runners.

The latest opinion polls show the incumbent leading with some areas too close to call.

Ochillo has a massive backing from Awendo but trails Obado in the remaining seven constituencies and it will need a massive campaign awareness by the former to make some meaningful impact.

It would be unfair to compare development records of the incumbent and that of his challenger Ochillo Ayacko owing to the fact that Ochilo has never been tested since devolution started off. We would compare Obado to other Governors from Luo Nyanza .

Ochillo 's stint as the sports minister ended in Harambee stars being banned by FIFA and even when the ban was lifted no major friendly match was ever organized by his ministry through the federations.

As the Energy Minister, he did not use his influence to ensure Awendo peripheral residents got electricity
Obado has the backing of 38 of the 40 MCAs and with an organized campaign network with Ochillo 's camp just reduced to smear negative campaign .