Former East Africa Community Chief Administrative Secretary Ken Obura has said he does not need ODM ticket to become Kisumu governor.
Mr Obura, who is also a former Kisumu Central MP, announced he will run on an independent ticket, declaring his readiness to face off with the party’s candidate at the ballot.
At least seven aspirants have declared interest to succeed Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o through ODM ticket.
Mr Obura, 43, who serves as the Head of Programmes in the Office of the Deputy President, Prof Kithure Kindiki, says he cannot afford to waste resources participating in ODM nominations, citing bullying and undemocratic tendencies in previous elections.
“In 2022, I was the strongest candidate but I was prevailed upon by ODM to shelve my ambition and support the current Governor. I’m going to run as an independent candidate as I don’t want anything to do with the ODM nominations,” said Mr Obura.
“We have to stop this trend of people being elected and they serve ODM interests instead of the electorate. I wouldn’t sacrifice and give up on my ambitions again, that is why I’m running as an independent candidate,” he added.
The former CAS served as Kisumu Central MP on an ODM ticket between 2013 and 2017 before announcing his bid for the governorship in 2022, where he expected to battle Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o.
Between 2017-2022 he supported the Jubilee regime and served as CAS for East Africa Community. He says he pulled out of the race in 2022 after pressure from the party, as Prof Nyong’o was handed a direct ODM ticket.
Those expected to scramble for the ODM nomination include Nyakach MP Aduma Owuor, Kisumu Town West MP Rosa Buyu, Kisumu Senator Prof Tom Ojienda, Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron, and Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathews Owili.
Mr Obura claimed that ODM leadership has failed the people of Kisumu since the advent of devolution and will have little space in the county's politics in 2027.
“Anybody vying on ODM should be the enemy of the people and shouldn’t be elected as a governor. If our people want development then they should look at the performance of each candidate, make an independent choice rather than vote on the party lines,” added Mr Obura.
ODM gubernatorial nominations in Kisumu have often been intense and highly competitive affairs, marked by rivalry and controversy, forcing the party leadership to intervene on several occasions.
In 2017, former Governor Jack Ranguma, who has also announced his bid but is yet to declare his party of choice, faced off with Prof Nyong’o in a chaotic nomination contest after the latter switched from the Senate seat.
From left: Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o, Ken Obura and former governor Jack Ranguma.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
With both Mr Ranguma and Prof Nyong’o claiming victory in the nomination exercise, confusion and tension engulfed the county tallying centre at Tom Mboya Hall as supporters awaited the official declaration of the winner.
Prof Nyong’o eventually secured the ticket and was announced the winner at Thurdibuoro High School in Nyakach, kilometres away from the tallying centre. Mr Ranguma later contested as an independent candidate but lost in the General Election.
In 2013, ODM was again forced to intervene when Ms Ruth and Mr Ranguma battled for the nomination. There was no clear winner as the exercise was marred by chaos and name-calling.
However, Ms Ruth later withdrew and accepted the position of Ranguma’s running mate following the intervention of the ODM leadership.
It is this history of nomination disputes that Mr Obura says he is unwilling to endure again, preferring instead to take his case directly to the electorate and allow voters to decide the governorship race.
“I have held intense campaigns and feels that had I been given a chance in 2022, I would have achieved much as our people have been neglected in health care, infrastructure, clean water and improve agriculture,” said Mr Obura, who hails from the larger Kano clan in Kadibo Sub-county, Nyando Constituency.
“Some of the leaders looking for the top seat are the ones who sabotaged Mr Ranguma's second term bid and paved the way to the current administration which has not done any meaningful development at the grassroots,” he said.
Mr Oron, who has been conducting a series of campaign rallies across the county, also hails from the Kano clan.
Mr Obura has cited his age, experience, and service in various government positions, as well as his track record as an elected leader, as some of the factors that make him suitable for the county's top seat.
