Sam Ongeri, the DAP-K party’s Kisii Governor candidate, has been dealt a setback after his running mate Josiah Maaga ditched him.
Ongeri was in Kisii State Lodge on Wednesday for a Gusii Leaders meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta when Maaga dropped him in favor of UDA candidate Ezekiel Machogu.
The ‘defection’ is the second to hit a Kisii governor candidate in less than two months.
KNC candidate Manson Oyongo was also dealt a setback when his running mate Alfred Ndemo defected to ODM’s Simba Arati.
Maaga told journalists that Bomachoge elders urged him to defect.
He claimed he was “recalled by the elders,” who forwarded him to deputise Ongeri.
“I don’t have the power on my own to make such a decision, I was only sent to deputise Ongeri with the same community that sent me there,” stated Maaga.
Everything in the country, according to Maaga, was done communally, and his decision to abandon Ongeri was unanimously agreed upon by the same community.
Maaga stated that he would await further briefing from the same individuals who ‘deployed me there.’
Part of the community’s concern with Ongeri was his failure to run an effective campaign while running for the County seat.
“His campaign has largely been shoddy and lacking in vigour,” said Maaga.
He said he already saw signs of losing the polls.
“We were losing and that is why I accept this decision to withdraw me from him so that we support Machogu,” said Maaga.
