Embattled Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba still needs the input of the ODM party leader Raila Odinga to reclaim his seat in 2017, political science and communication lecturer Gideon Mamboleo has said.
Ababu fell out with his political mentor, Raila and subsequently resigned as the ODM secretary general citing frustration from a section of party members.
And now the Moi University don believes that the two-term lawmaker's onslaught on Raila could ‘severely’ cost him in his bid for Budalang'i seat in next year's polls.
“I have been watching Ababu keenly and it doesn’t take you many hours to conclude that he made the wrong choice by resigning as the ODM secretary general and subsequently go out guns blazing against his party leader,” he said.
“The move will cost him severely in the 2017 polls because I still believe the western Kenya voting bloc still supports Raila. It will take ages for him to convince them about his decision to leave the party. You saw when Raila visited western Kenya and the writings are on the wall,” he added.
Mamboleo maintained that Ababu’s only hope would be going silent on political matters and remaining in the ODM party.
“Busia County is pro-ODM and Ababu's only hope is to remain intact in the party and perhaps reduce his political fireworks,” he said.