President Uhuru Kenyatta allies have expressed disappointment with the move by the ODM leader Raila Odinga to advocate for six-piece voting in the ODM strongholds.
Together with other Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya affiliate parties, President Uhuru’s allies warned that ODM leader’s ‘six-piece suit’ call for voting in his Nyanza backyard could upset voter turnout and affect his presidential bid.
In an interview with The Daily Nation, Jubilee Party vice-chairman David Murathe, said allowing all other Azimio parties, including independent candidates backing Raila’s presidential bid to compete, would be healthy for a high voter turnout.
“The more candidates the merrier. This is because they will all mobilise their supporters to go and vote and so it is important to let the competition be very heavy and they mobilise their supporters to ensure the presidential vote remains intact,”Murathe told The Daily Nation.
On his part Kanu Secretary-General Nick Salat insisted that Odinga’s call for a six-piece voting pattern was not good for the unity of the recently formed coalition.
“We cannot achieve maximum presidential votes through the route he is going. It is better that he allows other parties to contest because he is still the beneficiary,” Salat said.
They called on the former prime minister to retract his statement, saying it could hurt the coalition’s chances of winning the presidential election.
The storm come after the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition Party leader urged the electorate in Nyanza region to vote for ODM candidates only saying those vying on other parties or as independent are only meant to divide the region.
Speaking in Mombasa yesterday, the ODM leader also called on Mombasa County residents to vote for ODM candidates, from MCA up to the president.
In Luo Nyanza region ODM party candidates are encountering competition from Azimio-affiliated parties.
For example in. Migori County Jubilee has cleared Dalmus Otieno for the gubernatorial seat where he will face off with Achilo Ayako of ODM.
