ODM goes for fresh blood in Kisii, Nyamira counties

ODM has picked fresh politicians in Kisii and Nyamira counties to battle it out for 13 parliamentary seats in the region.

The party lost all parliamentary seats in the two counties in the 2017 General Election but was saved by the entry of Pavel Oimeke, who won the Bonchari seat in the May 2021 by-election.

It held primaries in only one constituency out of the 13, with most aspirants given direct tickets.

The primaries were held in Borabu in Nyamira County where Patrick Osero won against lawyer Nyandoro Kambi who has vowed to run as an independent candidate in the August 9 polls.

The other three constituencies in Nyamira County will have newcomers flying the ODM flag. In Kitutu Masaba, which is home to the party’s National, Treasurer Timothy Bosire, youthful Clive Gisero is the candidate.

In West Mugirango, Nyamira Express and Guardian Angel chain of buses business mogul Rodger Moturi will be making his debut in politics.

Former Bungoma County Assembly Clerk Kennedy Mosongo will try his luck in North Mugirango.

In Kisii, the party has cleared former Nyaribari Chache MP Chris Bichage to run for the seat, while Kanu Nakuru branch former Chairman Geoffrey Asanyo will face National Assembly Deputy Majority Leader Jimmy Angwenyi (Jubilee) for the Kitutu Chache North seat.

Anthony Kibagendi, who lost to Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka in 2017, has been given another chance to try his luck.

Pavel Oimeke, on the other hand, will be seeking to retain the Bonchari seat he has held for 10 months. Oimeke received massive support from ODM in last year's by-election that took him to Parliament.

Simon Ogari will be seeking to make a comeback in the Bomachoge Chache parliamentary seat. He lost in 2017 to then political novice Alfa Miruka, who is seeking re-election on the UDA ticket.

Bomachoge Borabu, Bobasi and Nyaribari Masaba constituencies will have new political entrants, Obadiah Barongo, Yobesh Oyaro and former KPA Managing Director Daniel Manduku, battling for the seats.

Barongo says unity will be key as he works on  rebuilding Bomachoge Borabu Constituency.

Dennis Makori, a 40-year-old co-founder and CEO of Onfon Media, a telecommunication service provider, will be making his second attempt for the South Mugirango seat.

In the woman rep seat, incumbent Janet Ongera (Kisii) was awarded the ticket while in Nyamira ODM opted for Emily Nyagarama, the daughter of late Governor John Nyagarama.