Mudavadi vs Raila duel in Matungu as ODM settles on former Mp David Were against ANC’s Nabulindo.
Battlelines have been drawn in the forthcoming Matungu by-election as ODM settles on former Mp David Were to battle it out against Anc’s Oscar Nabulindo.
In what has been billed as a battle royale, Odm intends to use the Matungu by-election to regain its fast fading popularity in Kakamega county.
Currently, ODM boasts of only two MPs in Kakamega county with only Hon Kizito Mugali of Shinyalu and John Naica of Mumias East.
David Were vied for the seat in the last general election on a jubilee ticket and came a distant third behind the eventual winner the late Hon Murunga of ANC and Ford Kenya’s Peter Nabulindo garnered 18000 and 10000 respectively. Were garnered only 7000 votes in spite of his track record and incumbency having served the constituency for three terms.
In all the three terms, David Were served on three different parties. In 2002 he won on Narc, repeating the same fete with ODM in 2007 before crossing over to New Ford Kenya which was under the Amani coalition, and winning it. In 2017 he vied on the Jubilee party but lost to the late Hon Murunga.
The entry of Mr. Were into the fray has rubbed Matungu voters the hard way with murmurs on social media pointing to a clear indication that they will reaffirm the verdict they passed on him in 2017.
”We are tired of Hon Were, worst of it is the fact that he is being recycled by ODM party. This is one of Oparanya’s projects that we as Matungu voters will endeavor to defeat and bury very early in the morning” a voter from Namamali ward said.
According to ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna, Mr. Were was given the ticket after he certified all the set requirements by the party. In 2017 ODM presented Paul Achayo as its candidate but he performed dismally.
”We are ready for whoever both ODM and or Tanga Tanga will bring to face our candidate Mr. Nabulindo. As ANC party we promise to defend the seat that was held by our member the late Hon Murunga and we are not afraid of any threat. We have the people of Matungu solidly behind us and whether Oparanya deploys the entire county resources, he will be defeated” Kakamega county ANC chairman said.
The Matungu by-election will be a litmus test for ANC and Mudavadi who has declared his ambitions for the top seat in 2022.
Currently Hon Mudavadi is mourning the demise of his mother and family matriarch Hannah Mudavadi who will be laid to rest on Saturday at her Mululu home in Sabatia sub-county of Vihiga.
