It is some sort of relief for Siaya Senator James Orengo as his competitor has pulled out of Siaya gubernatorial race ahead of the 2022 General Election.
Ugunja Member of Parliament Opiyo Wandayi on Wednesday, October 7, said he will not run for Siaya gubernatorial seat.
The legislator said the move to pull out of the race was reached after “extensive consultations” with his party and supporters.
“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.
The lawmaker said the move will enable him to dedicate his time to ensure ODM leader Raila Odinga succeeds President Uhuru Kenyatta who is expected to retire in August 2022.
Siaya Senator James Orengo had made clear his intentions to succeed current Siaya Governor Cornell Rasanga whose two-term constitutional limit comes to an end in August 2022.
Wandayi said he will drum up support for the ODM candidate who will be nominated for the Siaya governor’s seat.
“As a disciplined and loyal member of the progressive movement, I will lend my support to candidates that shall have been duly nominated by the ODM party,” he added.
Wandayi’s move is also a relief for ODM and party leader Raila Odinga as there might be little friction or fallout after party primaries for the Siaya gubernatorial seat.
It was feared since Wandayi and Orengo are both Raila’s close allies, the cut-throat party primaries would result in a bitter fallout.
Last week, ODM deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya however advised Orengo not to play county politics saying he is too senior to seek for county job.
Oparanya who doubles up as Kakamega Governor instead asked Orengo to dedicate his time in popularising Raila Odinga presidency.
“Orengo needs to be closer to the party, closer to Baba (Raila Odinga), he should be closer to us as we go up there to the national level,” he said.
