ODM leaders in must win plot for Lang’ata seat

ODM leaders in Nairobi have declared the Langata Constituency seat a must win in what they say will restore respect to the party leader Raila Odinga.

Mr. Odinga was the Langata MP for 20 years from 1992 before the constituency was split into two to give birth to Kibra constituency.

ODM lost the seat to the current MP Nickson Korir who beat Mr. Joash Olum in a hotly contested election.

It has emerged that Mr. Odinga himself has ordered the ODM Lang’ata branch officials to begin thorough vetting of contestants and to spearhead consensus ahead of the party primaries.

The Langata branch officials on Wednesday began holding meetings that involve all the aspirants targeting the party ticket.The meeting was led by ODM Langata branch chairman George Morara and was hosted at the residence of Mr Oduk Oginga a close ally to the Odinga family.

The meeting was attended by all ODM MCAs from Langata and more than five aspirants for the seat.
Mr Morara said that the party will leave no stone unturned in its efforts to win back the seat.
” We must do this for the respect of our party,Langata people and most importantly our party leader Raila Odinga who eats and sleeps in Lang’ata.

Karen MCA David Mberia said that the party will not this time avoid the mistakes made in 2017.
” We had a lot of internal wrangles and court battles that saw us have a candidate with very few days to the election,” he said

South C MCA Osman Khalif noted that unity will be key because of the cosmopolitan nature of Nairobi.

” We must begin the process of identifying our people and supporters and convince them to remain together if we have to win back the seat.

More than five aspirants have declared interest in the ODM ticket for Langata and among them is comedian Felix Odiwour popularly known as Jalang’o.Also in the race are former MP Joash Olum and former Mugumoini MCA Alex Ouda.

ODM Nairobi branch chairman who didn’t attend the meeting confirmed on phone that the party has earmarked constituencies that it must win.

” From the 17 constituencies our target is to bag at least 10 and Lang’ata is going to of huge interest to us because of what it means to our party leader,”

He said that the party is also aware of the situation in Westlands constituency where current MP Tim Wanyonyi has declared interest in the Nairobi governor’s seat.