Former Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) CEO and Managing Director Fernandes Barasa has emerged as the best candidate to fly the ODM ticket in Kakamega gubernatorial race.
Barasa who has declared interest in succeeding Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya in the August 9, General Election was at the center of KSh 600 million excess payments made to Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) for a project in Marsabit County.
He however stepped down hours before he was expected to appear before the National Assembly Public Investments Committee (PIC) to respond to audit queries.
While it was reported that Barasa resigned to vie for the gubernatorial seat as required by the law, other sources claim that Barasa resigned to evade being grilled over corruption allegations.
While endorsing him, ODM deputy party leader and Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya refuted claims that he endorsed Barasa because he is his family member.
“Na wengine wanasema ati mimi nimeleta huyu Barasa kuwa kama gavana ati yeye ni mtoto wetu. Ukiona mimi na huyu Barasa tunafanana kweli (And some say that I have brought this Barasa as a governor because he is my brother. If you see, do we really resemble?” Oparanya posed.
Barasa is expected to appoint Kakamega Chief Officer for Sports, Culture, and Social Service John Imbogo who recently resigned to focus on elections.
Kivumbi.co.ke understands that this is not the first corruption suspect to venture into the much-awaited General Election scheduled for August 9.
Last week, former Youth Principal Secretary Lilian Omollo who was charged over the KSh 9 billion NYS corruption scandal has declared interest in the Embu senatorial seat.
The former PS was in the limelight in 2018 after she was allegedly involved in the NYS scandal.
