Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero has denied rumors that Homa Bay governor candidates had reached an agreement, resulting in county MP Gladys Wanga being endorsed for the position.
Kidero claimed he was not invited to the meeting where all seven hopefuls agreed to put their aspirations on hold in order to support Wanga.
He stated that he will look at other options for running for Governor in the August 9 election.
“Homa Bay must be left to elect their own personality based on competence and ability. Given the fact that nomination has already been given out obviously locks me out of running on ODM ticket,” Kidero told The Star.
Read: Suba South MP John Mbadi Out Of Homa Bay Gubernatorial Race
“I was not invited to the meeting and I am not in agreement. In consensus, everybody must agree. I will be exploring alternative avenues to run as a Governor.”
ODM leader Raila Odinga earlier on said Wanga will be given a direct ticket after her opponents bowed out of the gubernatorial race.
“There are those aspirants who have been running for the governorship position in Homa Bay County. They have been having a meeting and invited us as party officials to come and have consultations with them.
“They’ve had very extensive consultations, at the end of which an agreement has been reached by way of consensus,” Raila said.
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At the same time, Oyugi Magwanga, former Kasipul Member of Parliament, was chosen as her running mate.
“Out of the seven contestants who were here, they’ve all agreed to step down and back Gladys Wanga as the party candidate in the Homa Bay County gubernatorial race. In the same spirit, they’ve also nominated her running mate as Oyugi Magwanga,” added the former prime minister.
The other aspirants were: ODM chairman John Mbadi, Jared Kiasa, former County Secretary Isaiah Ogwe, former Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga, Louis Ogingo, Kuppet Secretary-General Akelo Misori and Deputy Governor Hamilton Orata.
Mbadi dropped his bid earlier this week after being persuaded to back Wanga.
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The National Assembly minority leader said he will now focus his efforts on getting his party leader elected as the fifth president of Kenya.
“I have today withdrawn my bid from the Homa bay County gubernatorial race. I will therefore henceforth place more effort in the Azimio presidential bid and the nationwide bid to have ODM secure as many seats as possible,” Mbadi said.
Mbadi said it was the most difficult decision he has had to make in a long time. He also stated that he reached the decision after consulting with party officials.
“What has however made it doable is my unquestioned commitment to the ODM national agenda, the quest for the national growth and stability and of course my unwavering support for Raila Odinga’s presidential bid.
“I, therefore, thank all my supporters and even those who were yet to support my bid for this far we’ve walked,” he added.
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