Ruth Odinga scolds seven governors for 'demanding direct nominations' from Raila
What you need to know:
- Instead of seeking direct tickets, Ms Odinga said, the county bosses should address their grievances through party structures including the elections board.
- The governors at the Naivasha meeting included Ranguma, Ongwae, Oparanya, Nanok, Rasanga, Awiti and Mruttu.
- Ms Odinga has sought to market herself as an independent, away from the Odinga political dynasty.
Ruth Odinga has told off ODM governors who are said to have held a meeting on Monday with party leader Raila Odinga in Naivasha demanding direct nominations.
The Kisumu deputy governor accused the governors of overburdening their party leader with selfish interests.
Ms Odinga was responding to reports that the Cord coalition governors demanded direct nominations saying they were unsure of free and fair party primaries.
Instead of seeking direct tickets, Ms Odinga said, the county bosses should address their grievances through party structures including the elections board.
“Governors should be approaching the Judith Pareno-led team if they have issues with elections within the party and not the party leader,” said the Kisumu deputy governor.
Ms Odinga has indicated that she will run for the Kisumu governor’s seat next year.
The governors at the Naivasha meeting included Jack Ranguma (Kisumu), James Ongwae (Kisii), Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), Josephat Nanok (Turkana), Cornel Rasanga (Siaya), Cyprian Awiti (Homa Bay) and John Mruttu (Taita-Taveta).
'SHUNNING' PARTY STRUCTURES
“Governors should stop seeking favours and crying to the party leader every other time and instead face the electorate head-on. They should not be panicking if they are sure they have performed well in their first term,” said Ms Odinga.
She said the ODM governors have been shunning the party structures all the way to the grassroots level for the past four years and that it is insincere of them to try to woo the ODM leader as the country heads to elections.
“These leaders abandoned the branch offices and have not been supporting them, yet the officials are the ones who oversee elections in the county level. Now they are flocking to Mr Odinga for favours. We will not allow that,” said Ms Odinga.
Ms Odinga has sought to market herself as an independent, away from the Odinga political dynasty.
“I have cut out my political path and I have not hung on my brother Raila’s coat. In as much as I am close and can speak to him at home and not a hotel, I haven’t sought favours from my brother because I am an able leader,” she said.
She added: “I have a right to contest as Ruth Odinga but at the same time I am not apologetic to have come from the Odinga family, who many would love to be associated with,” said Ms Odinga.
