Primaries rows cast long shadow on Raila tour

By RUSHDIE OUDIA and MANGOA MOSOTA

Kisumu, KENYA:  Coalition for Reform and Democracy presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his campaign team are set to woo voters in Nyanza against the backdrop of the chaotic primaries.

And a number of candidates vying on different CORD affiliate parties are urging the Prime Minister not to endorse anyone in his three-day visit.

Raila is for the first time going to face both the aggrieved candidates and electorate following shortcomings in the nomination process that affected most parts of Nyanza region.

The move is seen as a way of consolidating the Nyanza support, a region that supported him overwhelmingly in 2007.

He is to campaign in Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira and Siaya counties for three days starting today.

Aggrieved aspirants

However, the team is expected to tell the electorate exactly what transpired in the nomination that had some of their candidates thrown out of the race.

Many aggrieved aspirants have been cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to contest on other parties’ tickets.

Raila is also expected to convince voters why they should support those perceived to have been floored in the primaries.

With Raila’s close allies being among those who have defected to parties within and outside CORD, this might prove to be a major challenge during his campaigns.

The candidates include former MPs Olago Aluoch (Kisumu West), Ochieng’ Daima (Nyakach), Martin Ogindo (Rangwe), ODM official John Magaiwa and Grace Akumu.

Olago said yesterday it would be unwise for the Premier to ask the electorate to vote in only ODM candidates in the so-called six-piece voting.

“It cannot work. It will make all the affiliate parties of the alliance weak, with ODM suffering most,” argued Olago, who is contesting the seat on Ford-Kenya ticket.

“He (Raila) is a reasonable and experienced politician. I do not think he would make such a move.”

Ford Kenya Kisumu Central National Assembly candidate Abdulkadir Omar said the six-piece system would not work, since voters were more enlightened.

Mr Omar said few voters would support the system since they felt aggrieved following the nomination exercise.

“I tried to step down for Obura (Fred, the ODM candidate) but my supporters would not allow me to do so,” said Omar.