Kenya: Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s close ally Caroli Omondi is among a host of leaders in the battle to succeed late Otieno Kajwang’ as Homa Bay senator as campaigns began in earnest.

Credible sources in ODM says Caroli has already gained the support of key ODM luminaries primarily because of his loyalty to party leader Raila Odinga and the fact that he comes from Homa Bay.

The initial arrangement, we established, was to have ODM chairman John Mbadi relinquish his parliamentary seat to succeed Kajwang but this approach flopped after Mbadi declined to take up the proposal.

“You see we don’t have time to conduct the usual nominations given that we must present our nominee to the Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission by December 19. Essentially we have to agree as a party on one candidate. The reason why Caroli is most likely going to be our candidate is because he comes from Homa Bay and his loyalty to our leader and party is not in question,“ said a senior ODM official.

Caroli served as Odinga’s chief of staff and private secretary during the grand coalition government and has been a key player within ODM. When The Standard on Saturday reached him for a comment, Caroli would not give details surrounding his candidacy. Instead he said:“We are still in consultations and there is not much I can tell you. Once we have concluded our deliberations, I will get back to you with conclusive details.”

In the wake of Kajwang’s death, the party leader (former Prime Minister) Raila Odinga appointed Mbadi the Orange party national chairman at a retreat in Naivasha, a move that was highly interpreted to mean that the youthful legislator was being prepared to inherit Kajwang’s political constituency.

But when the second term MP expressed that he was not willing to drop his Parliamentary seat to vie for the Senate position, a new scheme to ensure Raila captures the seat has now been hatched.

 At Kajwang’s burial last week, Raila pointed out that the seat will not necessarily go to Kajwang’s family, clan or neighbourhood, interpreted to mean the seat could even go to a contender outside Homa Bay County. Curiously, Raila, who is Nyanza’s political supremo, is from Siaya County.

“It is not a matter of a particular family or region, Kajwang’s successor must be able to fit in the position the senator occupied in ODM,” Raila said.

On Wednesday, more than 15 MPs who are his close allies pushed for him to rejoin Parliament by contesting the Homa Bay Senatorial seat.

The leadership of Homa Bay has however since protested saying the people of Homa Bay should be given a free hand to decide who is going to be their next senator. Among the lawmakers included Edick Anyanga (Nyatike), Peter Kaluma (Homa Bay Town), James Rege (Karachuonyo), Shakeel Shabbir (Kisumu East) and Nicholas Gumbo (Rarieda).

The MPs revealed they had petitioned the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leader to offer himself for the post, arguing if elected, he would provide leadership to the opposition coalition in Parliament.

The Raila factor in the upcoming by-election that has complicated matters for contestants and even divided opinions among local leaders and residents. Given Raila’s political influence in the area which is within his backyard, chances are high that he would capture the seat if he decides to throw his hat into the ring.

Although it is not clear whether Raila was consulted by the MPs before endorsing him for the seat, some of the contestants argued that the MPs acted on instructions from Mr Odinga, given their loyalty to the ODM leader. Others who have expressed interest in the Homa Bay seat include Kenya Professional Boxing Commission chairman Hillary Alila who was second to Kajwang’ in the 2013 General Election, former Rangwe MP Phillip Okundi, businessman Sam Wakiaga, former Gwasi MP Felix Nyauchi, former NSSF Managing Trustee Fred Rabongo, former Sony Sugar Board chairman Herbert Ojwang and Kasipul politician Kenneth Kambona.

The family of Kajwang’ is also considering fielding Moses Kajwang, the younger brother of the late senator Kajwang’ to succeed him.