Siaya County Governor Cornel Rasanga now says he is eying a parliamentary seat in the 2022 General Election as he seeks to remain politically relevant after serving the constitutionally allowed 2 terms in office.
In a report by NTV, the 64-year-old Siaya governor said he would be seeking to unseat the Alego Usoga Member of Parliament Samuel Atandi.
Rasanga who is among the more than 20 governors who would be retiring in 2022 said he will officially declare his ambitions for the parliamentary seat after his party leader Raila Odinga declares his presidential ambition.
“Am going to announce those things when Jakom (Raila Odinga) announces….Why do you want me to announce before Jakom announces?” he posed.
Rasanga said he opted to go for a lower seat after consultations from his supporters who advised him to seek the seat instead of remaining in the political cold for another half a decade before seeking a similar seat.
His declarations come barely days after an alleged secret 2022 elections lineup emerged causing jitters among party aspirants seeking to be Raila Odinga’s governor.
The Governor further said there was nothing wrong if the party decided to use consensus in party primaries.
“Let us assume that the party decides that they are taking so and so to be offered direct nominations, so be it,” he said.
Reports have it that the party is considering Siaya Senator James Orengo to succeed Cornel Rasanga and Raila Odinga’s elder brother Oburu Odinga to vie for the Siaya Senatorial seat in the 2022 General Election.
Ugunja Member of Parliament Opiyo Wandayi who had earlier on declared interests to succeed Rasangamade a U-turn on Wednesday, October 7, saying he will not run for Siaya gubernatorial seat in what appears to be a boost for Orengo.
“Following consultations with ODM leadership and the rank and file of the party and having listened keenly to the voices of my Ugunja constituent. I wish to make it known that I shall not be a candidate for the position of Governor of Siaya in 2022,” Wandayi said in a statement.
