December 11, 2024

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Tough battle as Ayacko,Dalmas eye governor seat

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Perennial rivalry between former Cabinet Ministers Ochillo Ayacko and Dalmas Otieno is likely to re-emerge with the two set to fight for Migori governor seat next year.

Ayacko is currently the Migori senator while Otieno is serving as the vice-chair of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

Both have served previously as Members of Parliament for Rongo constituency and in various cabinet positions interchangeably during reigns of the late President Daniel arap Moi and his successor Mwai Kibaki.

 Ayacko was the Rongo MP between 1997 to 2002 on a National Development Party ticket. He trounced Otieno, who then vied on a Kanu ticket in campaigns that saw opposition wave outrun the ruling party forces.

Ayacko again successfully beat Otieno in the race for Rongo parliamentary seat in 2002, pitting Kanu and the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc).

 Ayacko rode on the Narc wave, won and secured an appointment as the Cabinet Minister for Energy.

He lost the battle for the Migori governorship to Okoth Obado in 2017 but got a lifeline after he was elected senator in 2018 in a by-election after the death of former radio guru Ben Okello.

Political experience He is traversing the county selling his candidature hinged on his 15-year political experience.

“I am confident if given opportunity, I will diligently serve the people of Migori,” said Ayacko.

 “ I will promote equitable allocation of resources towards roads, water, health and education infrastructure,” he further pledged.

 Having lost to Ayacko, Otieno in 2013 joined the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) Alliance and trounced Ayacko as the Rongo MP on the Orange Democratic Movement ticket.

But he lost the seat to Paul Abuor of ODM in 2017. Otieno, who is seeking to make a comeback, has not indicated on which party he will run for the seat.

He was first elected as the Rongo MP in 1988 and served as minister in various dockets until Ayacko defeated him in 1997.

He made a return to Parliament in 2007 after he joined Raila Odinga’s ODM and won the Rongo seat, paving way for his appointment as the Minister of State for Public Service in the coalition government.

 “I have what it takes to be governor of Migori. All I need is your support,” Otieno said. The other candidate is former Migori MP John Pesa.

Pesa has been a career administrator having served as principal of high-profile secondary schools and teacher training colleges across the country for years before being an MP. Good manager “I am a good manager and will tprudently manage county resources just like I would mine,” claimed Pesa.

“My vision is to transform Migori into a commercial hub if elected governor” Pesa said Another aspirant is Chris Rusana, former town clerk having served in Rongo, Kehancha and lastly as Kisumu city clerk.

Rusana is now the Migori County Secretary. County women Rep Pamela Odhiambo has also declared that she will fight out with Ayacko for the ODM ticket in the governorship race.