Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong has held out an olive branch to ODM members who had quit to return and help the party form the next government. Speaking in Samia, during the burial of the Moody Awori’s nephew George Awori who was 53 at the time of his demise, Ojaamong said those who deserted the party are still their brothers.
“To skid is not to fall. The door is still open for those who left the party but we shall have to ration their ways a little bit,” he said. “As a party, we welcome all aspirants, irrespective of their parties, to traverse the county and solicit for votes but on condition that they conduct their campaigns peacefully,” he said.
Media reports on Tuesday quoted CORD co-principal Moses Wetangula telling ODM leader Raila Odinga to stop campaigning in Western region which is perceived to be Ford Kenya and Amani Congress zones.
Reacting to the reports, Ojaamong said Wetangula might have been quoted wrongly. “That is just politics, Raila is free to campaign in any part of Kenya considering that ODM commands a large following in the country. What party leaders should do is to strengthen their parties and seek people’s mandate when the election time approaches instead of trying to balkanize certain regions,” he said.
The Governor also took issue with MPs from the region whose business is only to attack Governors instead of doing their oversight roles including putting the national government under close check. “The MPs should leave Members of the County Assemblies to deal with oversight of County Executives,” he said.
