ANC Party’s Cleophas Malala’s bid to become the next governor of Kakamega County has become trickier after his step-mother, Jackeline Okanya, declared that she would support his main rival ODM party’s candidate Fernandes Barasa.
In an Azimio Rally on 4th August in Bukhungu Stadium, Okanya, also an ANC contestant for Mumias West parliamentary seat, claimed that she was also ditching the Kenya Kwanza coalition for she termed as being oppressive towards her.
She explained the coalition had asked her to step down in favor of Rashid Echesa, the former CS for sports and youth.
Kenya kwanza is demanding me to step down and support him, can’t women make good leaders?” she demanded.
She went on to explain that she had chosen not to support her step-son Malala because he was openly campaigning for Echesa.
“My son has openly been campaigning for Rashid Echesa,” she explained.
She claimed that her move to join the Azimio coalition and support Barasa is to ensure that Malala does not win the coming 9th general elections. She also
said that she drumming up support for Raila and Martha Karua for the hotly competitive presidential seat.
“I ditch Kenya Kwanza to Azimio to help Raila and Karua ganner the Mumias west votes. I have come to help my governor Barasa and Savula to become our next governor and deputy governor,” she said.
Okanya’s move comes five days before the election, with Malala having the greatest chance to win among other contestants, according to polls released by Mizani Africa in July.
It will be remembered that Boni Khalwale dropped his bid to run for the Kakamega County gubernatorial seat in favor of Malala
