Residents of Kisumu and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party fraternity have hailed the appointment of governor Anyang’Nyong’o as the interim ODM party chairman.
Kondele ODM doyen loyalist and area Bunge la Wananchi Chairman Sospeter Obungu Owich led the residents in commending Nyong’o’s appointment.
“Allow me to extend much gratitude to former ODM party leader Raila Odinga for trusting and having confidence in our son and remembering Kisumu County and granting us the honourable position of ODM party leadership; and we salute and thank him as we also thank Prof. Nyong’o for accepting the responsibility and pray for him to unite the entire country through the national party of ODM,” Owich stated.
Obungu termed Nyong’o’s elevation as a great honor to the entire County of Kisumu and the people of Nyanza in general.
“We thank Raila because the County of Kisumu had been forgotten but we can now attest that Raila has our best interests at heart because we saw regions getting positions like Simba Arati from Kisii clinching the deputy party-leader position and Godfrey Osotsi from Western landing deputy party-leader position as well, plus Abdulswamad Nassir from Coast who was rewarded with a top party position yet Kisumu appeared forgotten hence we are grateful for Nyong’os appointment,” asserted Obungu.
He hailed Nyong’o for landing the responsibility of steering the ODM party courtesy of Odinga.
“And I want to assure Prof Nyong’o of our support and we have high hopes in him as people of Kisumu and ODM party mandarins and we challenge him to move with speed and expunge any form of discrimination or marginalization in the party including corruption as a strong party loyalist,” Obungu stressed.
The Kondele Bunge la Mwananchi chair also called on the ODM Party mandarins to sort out nominations controversies within the party and ensure they consult extensively before issuing direct nominations to contestants starting by clearly identifying the area with popular unopposed candidates so they are made known to the voters in good time.
Obungu called for early sorting of the differences that do arise in the ODM party during nominations so that the process is conducted fairly.
“We want to appeal to the party that on the side of nominations once the party supporters have cast their votes for their preferred candidate, the tallying should be done at constituency level and results declared at the constituency level so residents ascertain the winners from MCA, MP and only the tally for Women Rep and Governor proceed to be done at the County tallying center to avoid wrangles witnessed in the past,” noted Obungu.
Obungu expressed confidence that the ODM fraternity has faith in governor Nyong’o uniting the ODM fraternity in Kenya.
“If the party heeds to these demands because we speak through the mandate of the people then we are confident that our party will have credible elected leaders in all the positions to faithfully serve the people” assured Obungu.
The activist at the same time wished Raila Odinga success in his AU mission asking God to grant him proper wisdom to enable him competently deliver on his mandate and further prayed God to also grant Nyong’o to successfully execute his new mandate.
The Nyong’o approval as the new ODM chair did not leave out the men of clergy after the Power of Jesus around the World Head Bishop Washington Ogonyo Ngede too hailed Nyong’o as among the founders of ODM party who is extremely eloquent with ODM regulations and bylaws urging Nyong’o to prioritize widening the popularity of the ODM party.
“We pray to God to bless Nyong’o and give him good health because Nyong’o has extensive wealth of knowledge in politics and leadership both in ODM party and in general” noted “Bishop Ngede.
By Milton Onyango
