ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga. An ODM politician has claimed that Raila is funding his campaigns. [Photo: The Star]
Bungoma ODM gubernatorial candidate Alfred Khang’ati has resisted calls to throw in the towel in favour of Ford Kenya candidate Wycliffe Wamangati.
ODM candidates in Western Kenya have been under pressure to step down for their partners in the National Super Alliance (NASA); Ford Kenya and Amani National Congress (ANC).
On Monday, Ford Kenya party Secretary General Eseli Simiyu urgedOpposition leader Raila Odinga to ask ODM nominees in Western to step down for Ford Kenya and the ANC.
Simiyu argued that since Raila was named NASA flagbearer, he should not compete with his equal partners in the Opposition alliance, Moses Wetang'ula (Ford Kenya) and Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), in their backyards.
But a defiant Khang'ati said it is right to run for any seat of his interest, daring his rivals to meet at the ballot.
“We know that all of us here in Western who have been cleared by ODM and given certificates by the IEBC will be on the ballot come August 8. It’s wananchi who will decide who among us will be the governor,” he said on Tuesday speaking in Bungoma Town.
The former Kanduyi MP said he has Raila’s blessings, revealing that he had received cash and campaign materials from the ODM leader.
“In fact, I say this so that they may feel it in their hearts — the money that I used when I was cleared by IEBC to set up campaigns and rallies, was given to me by Raila. And if they want to confirm, they can go to ODM offices on Capitol Hill in Nairobi [and] they will find my signature against huge amounts of money I was given,” Khang’ati said as quoted by the Star.
The politician revealed he was expecting more money from Raila through ODM deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya.