ODM Chairman and Suba South MP John Mbadi has abandoned Raila Odinga to focus on local Homa Bay politics where he is eying the governor’s seat.
Nearly all Luo politicians have been dropped from Raila campaign team which now mostly comprises of Kikuyu politicians like Kieni MP Kanini Kega, Maina Kamanda among others.
Raila campaign team has done an incredible job marketing him in Mt Kenya where the ODM leader’s popularity is on steady increase.
Suna East MP Junet Mohamed is the only MP from Luo Nyanza who is in Raila’s campaign team – and he is of Somali origin.
John Mbadi said he made a decision of exiting from Raila’s campaigns informing that he adds no value moving with the ODM leader across the country.
“We need to be more focused on our region. We also need to consolidate our base. I’m of more value trying to help in our region as opposed to moving with him across the country,” Mbadi told the Standard.
Mbadi further explained that his move is aimed at creating more space for those new friends who have joined the ODM leader and did not support him in the past, thus require an opportunity to tell Kenyans why the change of heart.
“It’s positive that Raila has new friends across the country and it only makes sense to allow these people to move around the country with him and have enough time to address gatherings unlike when we are all there,” said Mbadi.
The ODM chairman has said that he has exhausted all that he has for Raila Odinga and that even if he moves around campaigning for him then he will be forced to repeat the same old stories which he sees as unnecessary.
“They should have enough time to speak to the crowd and address why they think Raila is best fit to be the president something that they had not spoken about for many years. That will be adding more value to our campaign than when we all troop to his campaigns and repeat the same old stories,” Mbadi added.
Mbadi is eying Homa Bay gubernatorial seat in the forthcoming 2022 general election. The Suba South MP is facing fierce competition from former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, former Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga and Homa Bay Woman Rep Gladys Wanga.
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