Senator James Orengo (center) asked the locals to turn out in large numbers and vote for Raila Odinga. [Isaiah Gwengi, Standard]

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidates in Siaya County have continued to push for six-piece voting in the August 9 General Election.

Allies of ODM party leader Raila Odinga, led by East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Oburu Oginga, today intensified their campaigns across the county as they rallied residents to consider only Orange party candidates.

The developments come even as their rivals and allies within the Azimio One Kenya coalition claimed the push was unnecessary and they want the region to embrace other candidates.

ODM leaders asked the electorate to vote for Orange party candidates to ensure the Azimio One Kenya alliance presidential flag bearer is not a toothless president if elected.

While drumming up support for the ODM candidates in Bondo constituency, Oburu likened Azimio to a polygamous family.

"We are all aware that Azimio is comprised of many parties but that doesn't stop any party from campaigning for its members," said Oburu.

Oburu was accompanied by Senator James Orengo, Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Christine Ombaka (Woman Representative) and Orengo's running mate William Oduol.

Oburu, who asked the locals to support his senatorial bid, at the same time asked them to support the lineup of the leaders who won the ODM nomination ticket for all other seats.

East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Oburu Oginga. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Orengo, who asked the locals to turn out in large numbers and vote for Raila, said the president needed loyal troops who will work with him at the national level.

"It not enough to give Raila votes but deny him soldiers who will work with him in running the government," said Orengo.

Ochanda also asked the residents in Raila Odinga's backyard only to elect ODM candidates for all seats.

Ombaka urged local residents to turn out in large numbers on August 9 to vote for ODM candidates in all the seats.

"This is the only surest way of making Raila a president with a team that understands his nine-point agenda and those who will unite the region," said Ombaka.

Their push for a six-piece voting pattern has continued to rub the wrong way other fringe parties within the Azimio la Umoja coalition, with many opposing plans to zone the country and prevent them from fielding candidates, especially in the ODM strongholds.

On Saturday, former Rarieda MP Gumbo took his campaigns to Mageta island as he stood his ground to battle the governorship with ODM candidate.

He argued that voters should be rallied to consider on an equal basis all candidates within the Azimio coalition party.

"We want Raila to win the presidency and have all MPs in Azimio. So the six-piece voting pattern is for Azimio, not a political party because we are a house of so many parties," said Gumbo.

Gumbo, who will also face Millicent Odhiambo (UDA) and William Ochieng (independent) in the August 9 elections insisted that giving the Azimio parties equal chance will be beneficial to Raila's presidency as it will mean higher voter turnout as each outfit will be rallying supporters to come out and vote for its candidates.