Defect from Ford Kenya and join ODM, Khalwale told

Suna West Member of Parliament Joseph Obiero Ndiege has told Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale to defect from Ford Kenya and join the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in order to enjoy party support.

Reacting to Khalwale’s criticism of ODM leader Raila Odinga’s call for six-piece voting in Western in 2017, Ndiege said the Senator should join ODM if he is worried of losing out to Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya in the governorship race.

The legislator said Raila is obligated to sell policies of ODM and not other parties, regardless of the region he is visiting.

“Every party in CORD should work on popularising itself and its candidates without propagating mischief.

“And anyone who wants an ODM party ticket should be ready to face off with other opponents in the nominations process,” said Obiero.

He further warned Karachuonyo MP James Rege who recently defected to the Jubilee Party to be ready to lose his seat in the next polls saying his claims that he defected from ODM due to unfair nomination process were untrue.

Speaking in Kakamega on Sunday, Khalwale had lashed out at Mr Odinga over his calls for a six-piece voting for ODM candidates in the 2017 elections, saying he cannot dictate to the people of Western on how to vote.

In his tour of Kakamega last week, Raila had called on his supporters in the county to vote for ODM candidates in the presidential, governorship, senatorial, parliamentary, ward representative, and women representative positions.

“I want to tell your partner and my friend (Raila Odinga) that he is talking to himself. Our people, especially here in Kakamega, will vote for a CORD candidate in the presidential election – and we want that to be you (Moses Wetangula).

“In the governorship, senatorial, parliamentary, and MCA positions, we will vote for Ford Kenya candidates.”

Khalwale, who defected from UDF to Ford Kenya, is bracing for a bruising battle with Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya who has expressed willingness to defend his seat in the 2017 elections.