ODM leaders ‘plot to block’ Cornel Rasanga from Siaya by-election

By Mangoa Mosota

Siaya, Kenya: A section of top ODM leaders are allegedly making efforts to bar Cornel Rasanga from contesting the Siaya gubernatorial seat, The Standard has established.

Intense lobbying for the seat has started less than a week after the High Court sitting in Kisumu nullified the election of Rasanga as Siaya governor.

Already, some of ODM leaders have contacted six professionals from the county, who they propose to carry the party’s mantle in the by-election.

The leaders reportedly argue that Rasanga is ‘unpopular’ among locals hence he should go home.

“Among the six, who have been mentioned, Rasanga’s name does not feature,” said a party official, who sought anonymity to avoid antagonising his colleagues.

Contacted, Rasanga dismissed the list. “The list being generated is meant to mislead the public,” he told The Standard on phone.

He added: “The seat has not been declared vacant and the right procedure for campaigns and selecting the candidate will be followed.”

Another official at Orange House said if the issue is not handled well, it would embarrass former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and portray the party as dictatorial.

“Some of the Orange party’s leaders are saying that Rasanga is unpopular, hence he should not be the party’s nominee. But what method have they used to gauge his popularity?” posed the official.

He said some top party officials are bent on imposing an unpopular candidate, but added that this would result to unnecessary political rivalry.

“Disfranchised contenders may decamp to other parties. Raila will be forced to camp in Siaya for several days to campaign for the ODM candidate,” said the official.

Last Friday, Rasanga became the first governor to lose his seat. Justice Aggrey Muchelule nullified his election following a petition filed on April 8 by William Oduol.

Mr Oduol vied on a National Alliance Party of Kenya ticket during the March 4 polls. Muchelule directed that a fresh election be conducted.

‘Dirty’ operations

The court ruled that ODM did not give Oduol a chance to have a free and fair election.

Muchelule said ODM machinery ran ‘dirty’ operations that interfered with Oduol’s campaigns.

Last Sunday, Siaya Senator James Orengo said a meeting will come up with a solution on whom to manage the governor’s office that was left vacant following Justice Muchelule’s decision.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is yet declare the seat vacant to give way for a by-election. During the ODM nomination for Siaya gubernatorial seat, nominated MP Oburu Oginga and Oduol engaged in protracted tussle.

In the end, neither of them got the party’s ticket, after each of them declared himself winner of the primaries.