ODM says won't quit Bonchari mini-poll for Jubilee

Bonchari Parliamentary Aspirant Pavel Oimeke. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

The ODM party will not withdraw from the forthcoming Bonchari by-elections in favour of the Jubilee candidate.

ODM National Treasurer Timothy Bosire said Nyanza is the party's turf and it has a democratic right to field a candidate in Bonchari.

“Nonetheless, ODM is a national party. We had more or less agreed that we don’t field a candidate where either Jubilee or ODM has a strong following,” Bosire said.

Jubilee and ODM have in the past not been fielding rival candidates in their respective strongholds in the spirit of the handshake.

“We don’t have much development going on. Unfortunately, such information is being peddled. Handshake had a definite job to do; uniting the country," Bosire said.

He said the party has been receiving overwhelming support in Gusii and they will battle to win the seat.

The party does not have a representative from the region in the National Assembly despite bagging the senatorial, gubernatorial and Woman Rep slots in the last polls.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has already cleared 13 candidates for the seat that fell vacant following the death of MP John Oroo, a month ago.

Former Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Commission General Manager Pavel Oimeke will fly the ODM party flag while former area MP Zebedeo Opore is vying on a Jubilee ticket.

Other candidates are Teresa Bitutu (UDA), Eric Oigo (National Reconstruction Alliance), David Ogega (Kenya Social Congress), former Woman Rep Mary Otara (Green Movement Party), Margaret Nyabuto (Maendeleo Chap Chap) (MCC) and Kevin Mosomi (Party of Democracy and Unity).

The late Bonchari Member of Parliament John Oroo. [File, Standard]

The seat fell vacant after the former Member of Parliament John Oroo (pictured) died at Kisumu’s Aga Khan Hospital following a long illness.

The legislator was admitted to one of the private hospitals in Kisumu town weeks before he was transferred to Aga Khan Hospital.