Brace for tough race, Wandayi warns Oparanya, Joho as Raila's succession heats up

 

National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi has dismissed talks of emerging camps in the ODM warning those interested in succeeding Opposition Chief Raila Odinga to brace for a tough race.

The Ugunja MP declared he too has come of age and will be contesting for the ODM top position should Raila choose to step aside.

He however maintained that Opposition Chief Raila Odinga will remain the undisputable leader of ODM even if his African Union Commission (AU) bid is successful.

“Media seems to be implying that two camps are developing in ODM, there are no camps that I know of in ODM, the party remains one indivisible entity under Raila Odinga,” Wandayi said.

“The issue of camps is a figment of the imagination of our detractors.”

Speaking at his Parliament office on Monday, the Ugunja MP also downplayed a narrative that only ex-governors Hassan Joho (Mombasa) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega) are capable of leading the outfit in the absence of Raila.

The Raila point man in the National Assembly told Joho and Oparanya to brace for a third force should Raila resign from his party position.

“In the event or for whatever reasons Raila chooses to step aside upon clinching the Africa Union chairmanship, the field will be open to everyone,” Wandayi said.

“Everybody else will be free to aspire to lead ODM. Even myself I may present my name for the position.”

Wandayi is currently the ODM Political Affairs secretary, a position he has held for almost a decade now.

The Ugunja MP has been an ardent Raila supporter since his 20s, he is currently 51 years of age.

The Minority Leader was responding to media reports of emerging camps in the Raila-led ODM party.

The fight is said to pit the two ODM deputy party leaders Joho and former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya.

Oparanya has insisted he is keen to succeed the ODM boss as party leader if Raila wins the AU elections next year in February but through the avenues within the party.

BY THE STAR