Kenya: Imposing Raila’s ODM man in Ainamoi, the Kalenjin area, will not bear fruit
Posted by African Press International on June 4, 2008
Publisher: Korir, africanpress@getmail.no source.nation.ke
Leaders claim ODM candidate imposed
Story by SOLLO KIRAGU and COSMAS BUTUNYI
Discontent among Ainamoi leaders may cost ODM the seat in the June 11 by-election, with claims of interference from “outsiders”.
The leaders are opposed to campaigns for candidate Benjamin Langat from politicians not from the constituency in Kericho District.
ODM won the seat in last year’s General Election but it fell vacant a month later following the murder of MP David Kimutai Too.
Rebellion is building up, with accusation that Mr Langat is being imposed on the Ainamoi people by outsiders.
Contestants
The leaders say that some outsiders, among them Cabinet ministers, are plotting to impose a leader on the constituents.
Led by former deputy Chief of General Staff John Koech, they accused the politicians, whom they declined to name, of interfering with campaigns.
ODM is fronting Mr Langat, a younger brother of Mr Too against four others.
However, the UDM through its candidate, Dr Paul Chepkwony, a former senior lecturer at Moi University, appears to be giving the ODM aspirant difficult time.
The other candidates include Nairobi-based businessman Paul Chirchir of Kanu, Mr Parveen Sigey of United Democrats Party of Integrity (UDPI) and Mr John Kibet Keino on Agano party ticket.
Last week, the battle for the seat took a dramatic twist when retired Lieutenant General Koech threw his weight behind the UDM candidate.
Similarly, former MPs Kipng’eno Ng’eny and Noah arap Too and other aspirants who lost in the ODM primaries have declared their support for the UDM candidate.
Seek votes
A number of Kipsigis legislators led by Belgut MP Charles Keter are supporting the ODM candidate and have vowed to campaign for him ahead of the by-election to boost their numbers in Parliament.
Separately, campaigns for the Emuhaya seat have intensified, with Kaddu leader Cyrus Jirongo pitching tent in the constituency to drum up support for the party’s candidate, Mr Julius Sikalo Ochiel.
Mr Jirongo announced that Kaddu would hold elections next year in preparation for the 2012 General Election. Mr Ochiel called on voters to elect him on the strength of his development record.
Speaking separately, ODM nominee Wilbur Ottichilo said that the seat was crucial to his party as it would be a test of its popularity after the polls.
Narc-Kenya candidate Norah Olembo is also set to kick off the home stretch of her campaigns this week, after spending last week making preparations in Nairobi.
A major showdown looms in Emuhaya next weekend when two teams are expected to spearhead campaigns.
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African Press International – api
