Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s cousin Jalang’o Midiwo will not be contesting for the Gem parliamentary seat on an ODM ticket.
This was after Jalang’o, an elder brother to the late Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo lost the ODM ticket to incumbent legislator Elisha Odhiambo.
Odhimbo garnered 7,405 votes to become the Orange party’s nominee for the Gem parliamentary seat while Raila Odinga’s cousin got 6,383 in the recently held ODM nominations.
Odhiambo floored a three-time serving MP and a founding member of the ODM party Jakoyo Midiwo in the 2017 ODM nominations.
He later went on to vie as an independent candidate but lost to Odhiambo who is the current Gem MP.
Jalang’o Midiwo was expected to revenge on the behalf of his younger brother but the move bored no fruits.
It is not clear whether Widiwo who had vowed to carry on the legacy of his brother will opt to go for the seat as an independent in this year’s general election or not.
In one of his latest media interviews, Jakoyo Midiwo’s elder brother exuded confidence, saying the August 9, General Election was his to lose.
“I have the network that is critical in bagging the seat. My brother actually found the ground already laid for him when he returned from the US to contest in 2002,
“I was the one who put in place the campaign strategies for him, which included introducing him to the people of Gem,” he said as quoted by the Star.
Prior to the primaries, Jalang’o delinked himself from the alleged secret lineup for elective seats in Siaya saying that he was not in the race just because of the family name.
“I am offering my candidature to the people of Gem because I want to serve them. I understand what ails the constituency and through servant leadership, I seek to address these challenges,” he said.
