Kisii women representative ditches ODM for Jubilee

Kisii women representative ditches ODM for Jubilee

Kisii County Women Representative Mary Sally Otara has joined the Jubilee Party after ditching the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Kisii County has witnessed a wave of political defections, with political big wigs in the county switching party loyalties ahead of the August polls.

Otara now follows in the footsteps of the County Senator Chris Obure and Deputy Governor Joash Maangi, who ditched the Raila Odinga-led ODM Party for Jubilee.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga was at Gusii Stadium last week to welcome former education cabinet minister Prof Sam Ongeri to the ODM Party, after he decamped from President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party.

Otara was received at her new outfit by party supporters and aspirants at a strategic meeting at Sameta Boys’ High school in Bobasi Constituency.

The meeting was well attended by politicians eyeing various posts via the Jubilee ticket in Kisii County led by Senator Chris Obure – who is set to vie for governorship, his running mate Eng Albert Nyaundi, former Constitution Implementation Commission (CIC) Chair and aspiring senator Charles Nyachae, Members of Parliament allied to the party; Stephen Manoti, Joel Onyancha, Jimmy Angwenyi, Richard Tong’i, Zebedeo Opore, Simon Ogari and Elijah Moindi as well as Members of County Assembly (MCA) affiliated to Jubilee.

Otara accused the opposition party of sidelining her in party affairs in her county.

“I have remained loyal to the ODM party, but the leadership of the party has literally chased me away. They no longer involve me in the party programs and they seem to have preferred candidates,” she said.

It is believed that Otara left the party after nominated senator Janet Ong’era declared her candidature for the women representative seat through an ODM ticket.

Ong’era is seen as Governor Ongwae’s favourite for the seat and they have been holding road shows together to encourage people to register as voters.

“They closed me out of ODM, but when I came to Jubilee, I found the doors wide open and I am happy to join Jubilee,” Otara said.

She has been conspicuously absent during the recent visits by ODM and CORD leader Raila Odinga when he met local leaders to address issues touching on party nominations and when Raila received Prof. Sam Ongeri.

ODM is now left with one MP in Kisii County, Richard Onyonka (Kitutu Masaba), after Simon Ogari (Bomachoge Chache) officially joined Jubilee Party last Monday during a prayer rally at Magenche Market in Bomachoge Borabu constituency.

South Mugirango MP Manson Oyongo moved to Kenya National Congress Party a while ago, the party he intends to use in vying for the county governor’s seat.

The entry of Otara into Jubilee now brings to three the number of people seeking the party ticket to contest for the women representative position. The other two are; Bridgit Ombati and Judith Miruka.

In the 2013 General Election, Ombati vied for the women seat through a PDP Party ticket and came second after Otara.

Tags:

Jubilee Party odm Chris Obure Kisii county women representative mary otara sam ongeri

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