When Nicholas Odero Gumbo announced his bid for Siaya County gubernatorial seat ahead of the 2017 general elections, his supporters knew it was the right call to make due to his development record as a Member of Parliament (MP).
His opponents, however, knew that he was setting himself up for a do or die political duel against incumbent Governor Cornel Amoth Rasanga.
The then Rarieda MP faced Rasanga during the ODM party primaries, and lost. The former Chairman of the powerful National Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC) decided to vie for the seat as an independent candidate.
He faced Rasanga in the August elections and lost again. He petitioned Rasanga’s win at the Siaya High Court. The case was dismissed in February this year.
“I don’t agree with the court ruling but I will respect the verdict. We tabled concrete evidence and it was upon the court to make a fair ruling,” The former MP said then.
He said he was going to consult with his lawyers to see if they can appeal the ruling. He never appealed the ruling.
He has remained mum since then. Gumbo is yet to disclose whether he will be on the ballot again in 2022 or not.
The man was very active on social media during campaigns last year, but he is no longer active especially on Facebook.
He is widely expected to vie again in 2022, where he may end up facing Siaya senator James Orengo who is being rumored to be positioning himself for Siaya governor’s post after Rasanga’s term comes to an end in 2022.