Written By Ramadhan Kambi 📝
In a rare show of solidarity, three Kilifi governor aspirants seeking the ODM party ticket to replace governor Amason Kingi have now resolved to work together.
Former Devolution Chief Administrative Secretary Gideon Mung’aro, Kilifi Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi, and Speaker Jimmy Kahindi have accused Kingi of trying to kill ODM at the coast.
The other two politicians who are against Kingi’s Pamoja Africa Alliance (PAA) are Ambassador Dan Kazungu and Francis Baya.
All five are seeking an ODM ticket to run for governor and have vowed to unanimously revive the party in the region.
Last Friday the Kilifi Speaker organized and funded a delegates meeting that was attended by aspirants and top ODM officials from Nairobi a move he said was to begin laying strategies of reviving the party.
This is after the Exit of Kingi who formed his own political vehicle PAA which was perceived as having ‘reduced’ the popularity of ODM.
Among those who attended were mobilizers, delegates, and aspirants who were brought in to begin reactivating the party and sending a message to the people of Kilifi that Kilifi was still an ODM stronghold.
Also present were Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo, Woman Rep Gertrude Mbeyu Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga, his Kaloleni and Rabai counterparts William Kamoti and Paul Katana respectively together with a host of MCAs.
In his Speech, Kahindi said he organized the delegates meeting to revive the party and reenergize it again like it used to be popular before.
He said they agreed with ODM party leader Raila Odinga after a meeting in Nairobi and they agreed that there was a need for all leaders to come together to revive the party.
Kahindi said it is for that reason that’s why he invited all the other aspirants including his rivals were invited so as to begin the journey together.
“It is important even as we campaign for votes in our gubernatorial ambitions, we have the responsibility of raising the flag of ODM high and making sure Raila Amolo Odinga is elected as the fifth president,” he said.
He told the delegates that now they will begin going to the grassroots in a bang to meet them on the ground so as to ensure the ODM party rises.
As an Aspirant, he said one of them would be the flagbearer in the governor position but revealed that he has kicked off his journey for the top county seat in the oncoming general elections.
He urged fellow aspirants to ensure they do peaceful ODM nominations so as to ensure Kilifi remains in ODM after the exercise.
Later he said they would be going to the sub-county levels to meet the delegates so as to ensure Raila goes to statehouse.
Mung’aro on his part said all Kilifi people should support Raila to become the fifth president of the Republic of Kenya.
The Former CAS dismissed the Kenya Kwanza alliance for saying Raila was a project of president Uhuru Kenyatta.
“I want to tell those Kenya kwanza people that let Raila be a project, let him be even CDF but I will vote for him as president on August 9,” he said.
Kilifi County ODM Chairman who is also Ganze MP Teddy Mwambire bringing all aspirants together was a historic day for the party as all aspirants, party officials and delegates had convened together for the betterment of the party.
He advised the branch party officials in Kilifi to welcome all aspirants in their constituencies to popularize the party.
“I thank Jimmy Kahindi for financing the event, other leaders are also going to embrace the same in other parts of the county for such events of popularizing ODM,’ he said.
Mwambire said there would be a convention of women ODM delegates in Kilifi, youths, and people with disability.’
He called on all leaders to walk the path together to ensure all those who will win nominations to view for the seat of ODM are people who will strengthen the party.
The legislator said the nominations are going to be free and fair and asked everyone to work hard for the betterment of the party.
Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi who is one of the aspirants said they would make sure that Raila becomes the fifth president of Kenya.
He said Kilifi nis a renowned ODM zone and it was witnessed in the last general elections.
“We will make sure that on August 9 ODM will be like what happened in 2017 to win all the seats,” he said.
Senator Madzayo told all the delegates and aspirants to remain firm in ODM and not be shaken or double-dealing with other parties.
He said as representative of Raila who will be the fifth president all of them must support him fully to ensure he wins the seat so that the challenges of land in the county and the Coast at large are addressed.
Kilifi South legislator Chonga who was present said there was a time when ODM was perceived to have died and urged those who joined in recently to work with the old members to ensure the party delivers votes for Raila.
He accused Governor Amason Kingi of being the enemy number one of Azimio because he has field candidates in every constituency with his PAA party to challenge ODM.
Chonga also dismissed claims that Raila was a project of Uhuru saying even without being supported by the president they would still vote for him.
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