Kisii county Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) top party leaders and officials have implored aspirants for elective seats in the area to shun opening parallel party offices, saying it is creating a confusion.
Consequently, the leaders- Governor James Ongwae, Senator, Sam Ongeri, lawmaker Janet Ong'era and county party chairman, Kerosi Ondieki have urged hopefuls to respect the party’s structures and liaise with sub county party officials before opening the offices.
In resolutions read by Kerosi during the party’s leaders meeting at Agricultural Training center (ATC) yesterday, the leaders warned against opening of the offices, terming them illegal.
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The chairman said the party’s leaders welcome aspirant’s at all elective positions and commit to supporting their campaigns since they appreciate and recognize their democratic right.
“However, the aspirants must respect the party hierarchy and officials hence strongly warn against the opening of parallel offices which are illegal and should be removed,” part of the resolution read.
Ongwae urged residents to turn up in large numbers at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) voter registration centers and register as voters.
He further urged branch party officials to campaign and rally their support behind presidential hopeful Raila Odinga.
The county chief said the party has deployed and funded party officials to crisscross the county on a caravan in order to campaign for voter registration, stressing that only 6,288 new voters had registered out of the target of 215,000 voters.
The governor urged the national government to fast track the registration of Identity cards and release them to area chiefs and be issues to the youths to register as voters to enable them to take part in next years’ General Election.
The governor appealed to branch party officials, leaders and delegates to go out and rally their support to Odinga, stressing the Sikri Convention declaration by Nyanza leaders still remained.
“We stand by our Azimio la umoja at the Sikri convention and all efforts towards this one main goal which should be harnessed and harmonized for success,” Ongwae said.
Ongeri on his part urged the residents to respect leaders and appealed to those who will not get ODM tickets to support the winner and strengthen the party and propel Raila to State House.
“Do not abuse the Woman Representative and other leaders you elected, you will get a punishment. I respect the young and the old. Do not play with a grey haired person like me,” Ongeri said.
The senator said nobody has funded anyone to cause chaos and urged the media to report accurately, stressing he fought for peace and stands by it.
Lawmaker Ong’era said the Gusii community targets to have 2 million voters locally and in the diaspora respectively to be able to support Raila’s presidential bid.
According to Ong’era, the Gusii leaders will be able to negotiate with Raila for the community’s cake once he assumes power.
“We want Ongwae to work with Raila at the national level. He has done well in the county and the only gift Raila will give him is a national seat,” Ong’era said.
She lauded the party officials for opening offices and urged them not to allow outsiders to spoil the party ahead of the 2022 General Poll.
