Anxiety is growing in the Orange Democratic Movement over a host of candidates from party leader Raila Odinga’s family who want to vie in the 2017 elections.
Sources at the ODM secretariat and parliamentary group revealed that at least eight members from the Odinga family had declared interest in contesting various seats with some running against party leader Mr Odinga’s allies.
While Mr Odinga is fighting to become the Opposition’s flagbearer in the next elections, his elder brother Oburu Odinga, a nominated MP, will vie for the Bondo parliamentary seat.
On Monday Kisumu Deputy Governor Ruth Odinga said she is determined to vie for the Kisumu governor’s seat which is held by Mr Jack Ranguma and has also attracted Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o, an ally of Mr Odinga.
The ODM leader’s eldest daughter, Rosemary Odinga, has declared her interests in vying for the Kibra’s seat in Nairobi which is now held by Mr Ken Okoth. The seat has also attracted Mr Odinga’s presidential campaign manager in the 2013 elections Eliud Owalo.
Sources also say that Ms Winnie Odinga, the last born in the family, is interested in being nominated to the National Assembly to represent interests of the youth.
In Siaya, Mr Carey Rege who is a cousin to the ODM leader, has joined the race for the county’s governor’s seat, while former Kenya ambassador to the United States Elkana Odembo, a brother in-law to the former PM, is also said to be interested in Siaya senator’s seat.
And even though he has curved out his own political path, Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo, a cousin to Mr Odinga, will be defending his seat.
-nation.co.ke
