Kilifi Women Rep Aisha Jumwa during the launch of her nomination campaigns. Photo/ the-star.co.ke
A section of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) MCAs have called upon their party leader Raila Odinga to give Kilifi Women Rep Aisha Jumwa a direct ticket as she seeks to clinch the Malindi parliamentary seat in the forthcoming general election.Speaking at Alaskan grounds in Malindi on Saturday during the launch of Jumwa's nomination campaigns, Jared Burns Chokwe (Malindi town Ward), Nixon Muramba (Kakuyuni Ward), Kadenge Mwathethe (Shella ward) and Daniel Chai Chiriba (Jilore ward) asked Raila to give Jumwa direct nomination arguing that she been a devoted member of ODM.Jumwa is set to lock horns with the incumbent, Willy Mtengo, whom the MCAs say is too junior to contest against the woman Rep."Jumwa has been very dedicated to the Party and we think Mtengo is too junior to go for nominations with Jumwa,” said the MCAs, as quoted by the Star.The support of the four MCAs is a boost to Jumwa as the constituency has five MCAs, with the fifth MCA, Stephen Mlanda (Ganda ward) having defected to Jubilee’s side.The leaders also accused Mtengo of frustrating them after he was elected. "Mtengo has not been involving us in constituency matters and he is difficult to work with the Malindi constituency members,” Mlanda said.Mlanda further said that Mtengo should brace himself for a tough battle ahead.On his part, Mwatethe said that it does not make sense for Jumwa to contest against Mtengo. “No need of nominations with a person who is not influential, if need be and because of democracy we shall go for the nominations to finish him completely,’’ Mwathehe said.