Boga takes ODM ticket to set stage for fierce contest in Msambweni

ODM political aspirant Omar Idd Boga. [Joackim Bwana/Standard]

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has picked Omar Idd Boga as its candidate for the December 15 Msambweni parliamentary by-election. He is expected to face off with at least five candidates in the polls.

Boga triumphed against his sole rival Nicholas Stephen Zani by garnering 6,183 votes against Zani’s 530 in the relatively peaceful primaries conducted on Thursday.

Boga vied in 2017 as an independent and managed 10,000 votes against the late Suleiman Dori’s 22,000. Dori, a second-term lawmaker, died at the Aga Khan Hospital, Mombasa in March, hence the by-election.

Boga, a rising Coast politician is the younger brother of Agriculture principal secretary Prof Hamadi Boga and has previously served as Bongwe-Gombato MCA and Leader of Majority at the Kwale County Assembly.

“I am now sorting out my papers in readiness to present them to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). I am especially prepared to face off with ODM’s key rivals from the Tanga Tanga wing,” he said.

Zani said he was not satisfied with the poll outcome and promised to issue a comprehensive statement next week on how the election was riddled with flaws.

“I will further give my supporters direction regarding the campaigning, the by-election and who to vote for,” he said.

Kwale ODM chairman Hassan Mwanyoha however said he observed the primaries closely and was satisfied it was free and fair.

Wiper Democratic Movement has picked Mombasa businessman Sheikh Mahmoud Abdurahman while Amani National Congress (ANC) has Msambweni Knut branch executive secretary Bashir Kilalo for the by-election.

Feisal Bader, nephew and former personal assistant to Dori has opted to run as an independent candidate and is fronted by Deputy President William Ruto.

Also running as an independent candidate is Ms Mariam Sharlete Akinyi.

Akinyi went to the Jubilee Party headquarters in Nairobi to protest the party’s decision not to field a candidate in Msambweni thanks to the spirit of the Handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga.

Sources said about ten candidates could participate in the by-election where 68,500 voters are registered across 60 polling centres in four wards of Bongwe/Gombato (17,500), Ukunda (21,500), Kinondo (11,000) and Ramisi (18,500).

Boga’s win comes even as five candidates seeking ODM party ticket to contest for the North Kisumu Ward seat are set to face off in primaries today.

Yesterday, the party’s National Elections Board (NEB) appointed Returning officer Geoffrey Magak who said they were ready for the polls.

‘’We have hired 15 presiding officers and 30 polling clerks who will be stationed in the 15 registered polling centres in the ward for the primaries,” Magak explained.

Lydia Ligami, the Nyanza Regional police commander assured that adequate number of security officers will be deployed to oversee the exercise.

“They (ODM) have asked for security and we will give them,” said Ligami as campaigns across the ward ended on Thursday.

The winner will battle it out with Amani National Congress (ANC) candidate John Ouko in the by-election set for December 15.

The seat fell vacant after the holder Elisha Oraro was elected Kisumu County Assembly speaker last year following the ouster of Onyango Oloo.

Ouko got a direct nomination from the Musalia Mudavadi’s outfit and Ford Kenya has indicated that it will field Ken Ogada who vied for the same position on the party ticket in 2017.

Kisumu North ward has 16,000 registered voters across the 15 polling stations.