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‘Rebel’ Oduol leads in Siaya: Cord poll
What you need to know:
- Cord leader Raila Odinga, Siaya Senator James Orengo and Cord MPs from six constituencies in the county convened in Nairobi to consult on the matter before Mr Rasanga’s candidature was rubber-stamped.
- The Siaya opinion poll seen by the Sunday Nation gave Mr Oduol a 14-point margin over Mr Rasanga, with 48 per cent of the 712 respondents saying they would vote for Mr Oduol.
Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) latest opinion poll shows Mr William Oduol is the most popular candidate for the Siaya Governor’s by-election due next month.
The poll conducted at the request of the party by Infotrak Research Consulting triggered an array of meetings within the party before a decision was reached to support Mr Cornel Rasanga to defend the seat.
“It is true that we received the poll report that showed that Mr Oduol was in the lead but that poll was based on individual findings and did not consider party and other factors,” said Siaya Senator James Orengo.
Cord leader Raila Odinga, Siaya Senator James Orengo and Cord MPs from six constituencies in the county convened in Nairobi to consult on the matter before Mr Rasanga’s candidature was rubber-stamped.
Mr Oduol fell out with the ODM leadership after he viciously protested at shambolic party nominations in January following the party’s decision to declare Mr Odinga’s brother Dr Oburu Oginga the winner.
His protests forced ODM to seek mediation over the matter which saw the party’s election board handing over the ticket to Mr Rasanga before Mr Oduol rejoined the race through the National Agenda Party of Kenya.
The Siaya opinion poll seen by the Sunday Nation gave Mr Oduol a 14-point margin over Mr Rasanga, with 48 per cent of the 712 respondents saying they would vote for Mr Oduol.
Mr Rasanga comes second in the poll, with 34 per cent making him their preferred choice while Mr Ongwen comes third with five per cent followed by Mr Kerry Orege and JT Okinda who scored two per cent each. Former Kenya ambassador to US Elkana Odembo would have managed one per cent.
Sources at the ODM National Executive Committee revealed earlier that a decision had been made to nominate one of Mr Odinga’s top political advisers Oduor Ongwen for the seat.
Sources explained that after analysing the opinion poll, the coalition was concerned that a big percentage disapproved the former governor’s development record.
The Infotrak opinion poll indicated that 56 per cent of the respondents felt dissatisfied with Mr Rasanga’s performance as governor. ODM leaders have also fronted Mr Ouma Onyango as Mr Rasanga’s running mate in the by-election scheduled for October 17.
Meanwhile, Mr Oduol said he had talked to Mr Odinga and agreed to step down in case the party conducted a free and fair nomination process.
Mr Oduol said: “But I was shocked when once again they decided to appoint Mr Rasanga despite his dismal performance. I am now on the ground campaigning and let us meet at the ballot.”
Saturday evening Mr Okinda opted out of the race to back Mr Oduol.
