Politics
Civil society activists in Homa Bay county want Governors barred from vying for ODM Deputy party leader position to curb conflict of interest. Homa Bay County Bunge La Wenye Nchi Speaker Walter Opiyo expressed fears that if ODM Governors take up the posts, it will interfere with their service delivery to the electorate.
Opiyo who was flanked by the Bunge Co-coordinator Okano Nyasanga argued that any Governor who is elected Deputy party leader was likely to prioritize on the party activities instead of serving the people.
He expressed fears that the Governors were likely to divert county resources to fund activities of the party. “We are opposed to any serving governor being elected ODM Deputy party leader, doing so will jeopardize public funds meant for improving the lives of county citizens,” Nyasanga said.
Opiyo argued that Governors should focus more on management of resources in their counties for undertaking development projects instead of engaging too much in political activities. He said a Governor who is elected an ODM party leader will not have time for serving the people. Instead, they will be engrossed on political activities.
“A Governor is a manager who should focus on managing resources of his or her county. But electing them as deputy party leaders means they will spend too much time in politics rather than management which is their core mandate,” Opiyo said.
He said any Governor who is elected a deputy party leader was likely to lose focus in development agenda for their counties because they will almost be assured of securing direct party nomination tickets for defending their seats in 2027.
Four Governors have expressed interest for the position of ODM deputy party leader. They include Gladys Wanga of Homa Bay, Simba Arati (Kisii), Abdulswamad Nasir (Mombasa) and Gideon Mung’aro (Kilifi). A section of leaders in Homa Bay County have already hit the campaign trail to push for election of Governor Wanga.