[Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in a past event. Politician Abuya Abuya says exit of Paul Otuoma and Moses Akaranga could hamper his State House dream. Photo/Nation]
The recent defection of Paul Otuoma and Moses Akaranga to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee side could deal NASA a detriment, says ex – pluralism fighter Abuya Abuya.
While Otuoma lost his Busia governorship bid to ODM’s Sospeter Ojaamong, Akaranga suffered a similar fate in Vihiga to Wilberforce Otichillo.
But Abuya believes the most could sabotage NASA’s dreams of consolidating entire Western voting block ahead of October elections.
“I think letting Otuoma and Akaranga go is the worst mistake. They are very influential and in fact they even scored very well,” he says.
The freedom hero added:”This is going to cost Raila Odinga badly and how I wish he talked to them. The Western region is important to him.”
Prior to his defection, Otuoma, a former ODM Vice Chairman and Funyula MP, accused Odinga of failing to ‘protect’ him from unnamed cartels in the Orange party.
Although Akaranga’s decision to defect has not yet been established, he may have protested after losing to an ODM candidate, having negotiated unsuccessfully to have NASA drop her candidates in Vihiga.