Boost for Lenku as ODM Leadership in Kajiado vow to support his gubernatorial bid

Kajiado governor Joseph Ole Lenku has received a major boost to his gubernatorial bid after the Orange Democratic Party in Kajiado unanimously agreed to back his re-election.

In a statement read by the county ODM branch chairman Tarayia ole Kores in Ongata Rongai after meeting with all the aspirants, it was agreed the party will join hands with Jubilee to back Lenku’s re-election bid.

Kores said: “After a robust discussion among ourselves, we have taken exception to the defection of one of our members, David Ole Nkedianye, to another party.”

The ODM branch chairman said the decision by the former county governor (Nkedianye) to leave the party in “total” disregard of any consultation with the party leader or the relevant party organs, can best be described as “betrayal” to the party leadership.

Nkedianye defected to Jubilee Party on Monday last week after citing “unfairness” in the manner in which ODM leadership was handling its candidates regarding their nominations.

Nkedianye’s running mate in the race for governor seat, Kajiado North MP Joseph Manje, who is a member of Jubilee, said his boss moved out of ODM because of “trust issues”.

Kores, who was considered a close all of Nkedianye ahead of the party primaries in April, said the former governor also betrayed ODM members at a time they needed all the support to achieve their political aspirations.

“Further, this unprecedented shift of loyalty from ODM by Nkedianye is an apt example of the pursuit of personal and selfish political goals at the expense of the party leader, Raila Odinga, and everyone else,” said Kores.

He went on: “Because of this betrayal, and in full consultation with our party leader Raila, and other party organs, we declare that all loyal ODM party members will rally their support behind the Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate.”

“All loyal ODM party members will also behind governor Lenku of the Jubilee party, as the sole gubernatorial candidate for the Azimio la Umoja Movement together with his designate deputy governor,” said Kores.

Kores said that in the spirit of the coalition between ODM and Jubilee parties, and as an effort to cultivate a sense of unity in the county, they resolved to engage Raila and President Uhuru Kenyatta on how to share other political seats between the two parties.

The ODM branch boss announced that the party has concluded that nominated senator Judith Pareno will be given the Azimio la Umoja flag to vie for the senate seat.

He said that because the ODM has no candidate for governor, the Jubilee and ODM party members will support the election of Pareno.

Kores said Raila and Uhuru are already engaging on how they share other positions in the county, among them those of MPs, Women Representative and MCAs.