[Kisii ODM team in a past campaign trail. A section of aspirants have accused Governor James Ongwae of sidelining them. Photo/Nation]
ODM aspirants in Kisii County have accused incumbent governor James Ongwae of backing independent candidates in the August polls.
The candidates claimed the governor had shunned them in favour of independent candidates who had lost their bids for party tickets during the ODM primaries.
In a statement read by ODM county caucus chairman, Bobaracho Ward candidate, Joshua Nyabengi, the aspirants alleged that Governor Ongwae had opted to work with independent candidates allied to his camp.
“Instead of toeing the party line as a bona fide official and working with its lineup of duly nominated candidates for the election, Governor Ongwae is busy conducting his campaign with a roster of losers and candidates drawn from National Super alliance ( Nasa) affiliate parties, hampering our party’s political chances of securing maximum seats in the process,” charged Mr Nyabengi.
He accused the governor of working against the best interests of ODM in the region, saying the party stood to lose a number of seats due to the governor’s absence from the caucus campaigns.
“We are dismayed by the governor’s unwillingness to team up with us in the party’s campaigns since he is always accompanied by candidates who lost in the primaries. His actions are a clear sign that he did not accept the will of the party members who rejected his preferred lineup at the nominations,” said the caucus chair.
The politician petitioned Governor Ongwae to work with ODM candidates to enhance the chances of the party winning many elective seats to form the next county government.
Caucus Secretary, Nyatieko Ward Rep candidate, Daniel Kirioba echoed Mr Nyabengi’s claims, saying they have never held a meeting with the governor since they were nominated.
“Governor Ongwae is yet to meet us since we were officially nominated and our efforts to meet him to plan our party’s campaign have so far been fruitless,” said Mr Kirioba.
The caucus issued a three day ultimatum to the governor to meet them to discuss the way forward for ODM’s campaigns, threatening to seek direct audience with ODM chairman Raila Odinga to address their grievances.
“If Governor Ongwae three days to meet us failure to which we seek audience with Nasa flag bearer, Raila Odinga to address our grievances” said Nyabengi after a consultative meeting on Wednesday.
He said ODM has 30 candidates under the Nasa coalition, adding they had resolved not to attend Ongwae’s political rallies, and campaign meetings and campaign until he meets and addresses their political plight.
They alleged that some county employees had been recruited as campaign managers to spearhead the party’s campaigns, saying they will fail.
“We wish to warn the governor that the country employees he has recruited as campaign managers and team members are a serious liability to the party’s chances of success. They have limited influence on the ground and their presence in his campaign team will greatly contribute to the party’s dismal performance during the August 8 general election,” said Mr Kirioba.
The candidates said they would not agree to be sidelined in the party’s county campaigns, adding that they were fully committed to Raila’s presidential bid.
“We wish to reaffirm our resolve to be part of the campaign for Raila Odinga’s presidential campaign. There is no way we will be sidelined in the campaigns since we will continue campaigning for State House bid,” said the aspirant.
The candidates threatened to withdraw support for the governor’s reelection bid and backing a governorship bid by other Nasa affiliate party candidates.
“If Ongwae declines to meet us, we will convene another meeting and chart an alternative way forward, including supporting one of Nasa’s affiliate gubernatorial candidates – Lumumba Nyaberi of Wiper or Manson Oyongo of the Kenya National Congress ( KNC),” he said.
Responding to the accusations, a source close to the governor who wished to remain anonymous rubbished the aspirants' concerns as misplaced and wild allegations.
He said the governor was committed to the party and Nasa presidential flag bearer Raila Odinga, daring them to prove their allegations with substantive evidence.
"The aspirants have a hidden political agenda that they wish to implement by attempting to intimidate the governor. We are aware of their schemes and are not going to fall prey to them...let them provide evidence to substantiate their wild claims," said the source.
Other candidates in the governorship race include- Senator Chris Obure, Jubilee Party, Kefah Okioma, progressive Party of Kenya ( PPK), Boniface Omboto, Maendeleo Chap Chap ( MCC), Dr Charles Omwega National labour Party (NLP) and Dr Maranga Bagwasi, Chama Mwangaza Daima ( CMD).