Kenya's Most Authoritative Political Newspaper

Citizen Weekly

Sunday 10 August 2014

GUV AWITI DELIVERS CIVIC SEAT TO ODM


Homa-Bay governor Cyprian Awiti finally delivered the Kibiri ward seat amidst fear that a number of ODM MPs from the county were secretly supporting rival candidates. According to sources, Awiti led the campaigns from the front and bankrolled the campaigns.

Opiyo Ondiek of ODM was declared the winner after garnering 2,936 votes and was followed by Michael Onyango of WDM (2,023), Apollo Adede (167), Joel Omollo (65) and Omondi Odiembo (59).


The by-election produced political fireworks as some local politicians had schemed to embarrass ODM by supporting the WDM candidate.
Awiti’s political strategy has left many of his enemies politically irrelevant. Immediately after assuming office, he has consolidated his political base by bringing on board even those who were opposed to his candidature during the last general elections.

Of late, there have been calls from some quarters that he should retire after but such calls have been termed as immature and designs by politicians eyeing the gubernatorial seat in 2017.
Even as some few disgruntled politicians call for his retirement, Homa-Bay residents are said to be backing him. They have also dismissed Karachuonyo MP James Rege’s announcement that he will be vying for the governor’s seat in 2017.

Rege who is serving his second term is likely to meet stiff opposition from the electorate mainly because of the manner in which his cronies are running the CDF. There have been claims that the people running the Karachuopnyo CDF are notorious in kickbacks before they approve funding or awarding contracts.

There have been whispers across the county that should Awiti opt not to defend his seat in 2017 then  eyes will be on Sammy Wakiaga, who sources also say has gone abroad for further studies.

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