[ODM leader Raila Odinga in a past event. His controversial statements on land and Education CS Fred Matiang’i could have cost him in Gusii. Photo/Nation]
Opposition leader Raila Odinga will have himself to blame after failing to score maximum votes in Gusii region, analyst Gideon Mamboleo claims.
Having been earmarked as swing, Jubilee administration put a lot of resources in Nyamira and Kisii counties with an aim of neutralizing the opposition team.
And Odinga’s dismal performance particularly in Nyamira County where Uhuru Kenyatta scored 52 percent is being attributed to his statement on Fred Matiang’i and land issues in Kajiado.
“I think when he picked war with Matiang’i it really cost him. Many people thought he was victimizing him for no good reason,” he says.
Mamboleo adds: “The controversial remarks at Kajiado on land issues also contributed. Gusii people have invested in that region and this could have not gone down well with them.”
Moments to elections, Odinga claimed that Matiangi was wrongly participating in campaign and accused him of plotting to rig Uhuru Kenyatta in.
At Kajiado, Odinga cautioned locals against selling lands to outsiders, remarks which might have changed tune of some voters.