By Obegi Malack
As major political parties Jubilee and UDA hold meetings to strategize how their candidates triumph in the August general election, ODM Party which is also one of the major Party in the country is facing challenges in Kajiado County.
The party candidates have gone different ways, they are campaigning for candidates in opposition parties and others who are vying as independent candidates.
The party’s candidate for Kajiado North Constituency George Yogo is protesting failure by governor Joseph ole Lenku of ODM to support him.
The politician said a meeting was held in a hotel along Magadi Road whereby the governor asked those invited to support his opponent Independent candidate Sankok Teeka.
Another meeting was held along Isinya road where Yogo’s supporters where told not to support Yogo.
`County govt chief of Staff told some of my team members that it is only a few days left for Lenku to push Yogo down. He confirmed to them our fears that Lenku and Kores had hatched a scheme to ensure I don’t get to the ballot,’ Yogo said.
When he expressed his disappointment to the governor campaigning for an independent candidate, Yogo claimed the governor said.. “Yogo don’t tell me nonsense. stupid and dropped the call”
The politician pointed out that politician Tarayia ole Kores and Lenku have openly said that they don’t need an ODM candidate to get the party votes.
`To them, the support of ODM is automatic. They therefore have no regards to the communities that form the ODM solid support base. Tutaona!’ Yogo said.
During presentation of documents to IEBC it was clear Teeka is governor Lenku’s preferred candidate , the politician was accompanied with supporters of governor Lenku including an ODM MCA candidate.
When the governor launched his manifesto in Kajiado a function attended by Azimio La Umoja leaders led by presidential candidate Raila Odinga who endorsed his bid, Kajiado Central Wiper party candidate Moses Birisha addressed the gathering. He is the governor’s preferred candidate.
Incumbent MP Memusi Kanchori did not attend the meeting and has openly declared support for Jubilee Party gubernatorial candidate Dr David Nkedianye.
He had said he has not been directed by Odinga to support any candidate for governor.
During burial service of the MP’s wife Stella Memusi the ODM Party leader Odinga called on the gathering to support re election of the MP. Who he identified as a friend and supporter.
Junet Mohamed also called for the mourners to vote the MP who he said has made the party gain roots in the county.
The ODM Party has remained with leadership vacuum with everyone identifying himself/herself as party official.The party is yet to call for a meeting to give a direction on how they will carry out their campaigns.
On Friday Jubilee Party hosted all its candidates from Kajiado County led by former governor David Nkedianye, his Deputy MP Joseph Manje and Senator candidate Moses Ole Sakuda for a consultative forum at Jubilee Party HQ, Pangani.
The party said it will continue to engage, share ideas and listen to its candidates across the country.
UDA Party has also held rallies directing supporters to strictly vote the party candidates.