As the clock ticks towards the August 9, elections, ODM leader Raila Odinga’s close relatives are poised to dominate the political arena, especially in the Nyanza region.
At least six members of the royal Jaramogi family have thrown their hats in the 2022 elections ring.
The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s close relatives are expected to contest for all elective seats from the Member of County Assembly (MCA) seat to the presidency except the gubernatorial seat.
Already, the ODM leader has been endorsed by among other leaders President Uhuru Kenyatta in the statehouse race.
Raila Odinga’s elder brother and EALA MP Oburu Odinga has announced that he will be seeking to succeed Siaya Senator James Orengo who will be contesting for the gubernatorial seat.
Raila Odinga’s nephew Elijah Bonyo Oburu is the latest aspirant to join the already crowded race for Kisumu central parliamentary race.
The hopeful is seeking to unseat MP Fred Ouda who is serving his first term and will defend the seat in the August 9 General Election.
Bonyo is the son of East African Legislative Assembly lawmaker Oburu Odinga, elder brother to the ODM boss.
Oburu’s son Jaoko had earlier indicated he would run for the Lang’ata parliamentary seat in Nairobi has since dropped.
Sources close to the family told People Daily that Jaoko had been prevailed to withdraw from the race in favor of his brother Elijah following concerns that it would be too expensive for the two siblings to bot seek elective seats at the same time.
Omondi Odinga, another brother to former Lang’ata MP Raila Odinga and Oburu Odinga has thrown his hat in the ring for the Milimani market ward seat.
Interestingly, Omondi is expected to square it out with his son in law George Abwajo for the seat.
Fascinatingly, the ward falls within the Kisumu Central constituency which Elijah is seeking to represent.
Raila Odinga’s sister Ruth Odinga has also expressed her ambitions to vie for the Kisumu Woman Representative position in the upcoming elections.
On Monday, February 28, Ruth who serve as Kisumu deputy Governor during Jack Ranguma’s regime defended the Odinga’s from claims they were too dominant.
“Let everyone be allowed to freely exercise their democratic right. Let’s not stifle their rights,” she said.
This comes even as there have been murmurs of discomfort from some quarters in the Nyanza region that the entry of the Odinga’s into elective seats may work against Raila’s fifth presidential bid.
