Siaya Senator James Orengo's recent remarks that ODM party leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will vie for presidency in 2022 has sparked angry reactions in the coast region.
Orengo said ODM has Odinga who has severally lost in presidential elections as its potential presidential candidate in 2022 and there should be no doubt about it.
However, the statement has angered a section of Coast ODM lawmakers including Teddy Mwambire (Ganze), Michael Kingi (Magarini), Owen Baya (Kilifi North), William Kamoti (Rabai) and Rashid Bedzimba, a former Kisauni MP who is Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho's close confidant.
Baya said Orengo's statement came as a shocker to them saying Odinga had pledged to support a presidential candidate from the Coast region in 2022.
“Orengo's statement is a shock to us from the Coast because Raila had indicated that he would support somebody from the coast for the presidency," said Baya.
According to the lawmaker, the about-turn by Odinga's people, who appear to be pushing him, gives Coast residents a cold feet.Baya said the Coast region will be forced to go back to the same opposition formulae which has left the people of Coast to suffer.
"If that happens, we will go back to the same election formula, and we will end up back on the same old opposition benches and as a region, we will continue to suffer,” he said on Wednesday.
Michael Kingi on his part, said the Coast region will come up with its political party and field its presidential candidate regardless of whether Odinga vies or not.
"Whether Mr Odinga goes for the seat or not, the region has already decided its destiny... having its own political party and fielding a presidential candidate," said Kingi, who is Kilifi County Governor Amason Kingi's brother.
Ganze MP added his voice, saying: "Although we respect and support Mr Odinga, there will be no compromise this time round."
Governor Kingi and Joho are eyeing the presidential seat in 2022.
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