Reports Leo Odera Omolo in kisumu City.
HILARY Ochieng’ Alila one of the youthful aspirants for the coveted position of Homa-Bay County Senate seat has reaffirmed his candidature and dispelled the rumor making the round that he had chicken out of the race.
Alila who has been out the country for close to one month, returned home on Sunday evening in a flight from Johannesburg, South Africa where he had gone on a business mission and immediately called this writer by phone to reaffirm his candidature.
He dismissed the rumor as the work of his political detractor and enemies working in cohort with his opponent in the race.”But I want to assure all my supporters, particularly the youths, women that I am very much in the race and we shall all meet at the ballot box come 2012,” said Alila.
Alila who is a businessman in both Nairobi and Kampala said he had gone to South Africa to explore the possibility of extending his business network to that country with view to capitalize on its buoyed economy boasted that he had established a formidable following and political network in all the seven constituencies that forms Homa-Bay County and as such cannot back down from the race.
He said if elected to the Senate he will thrive to make the vast and most expansive County the most vibrant. He said the region is rich in agriculture, mineral and fishing and could be turned around if the youthful and energetic leaders are voted into it. It only requires people with good education and experience of and capable of ensuring that good governance is in place.
Alila dismissed reports making the round that the Prime Minister Raila Odinga intend to impose the Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang’ to take the Homa-Bay Senate seat as mischievous rumors. Raila is an experienced politician and he needs everyone around for him to realize his presidential ambition. He would therefore pick the popularly elected Senator to work with.”The burden of choosing the good Senator is therefore resting with the electorate.” He added.
Alila who hails from Ndhiwa constituency is said to be very popular with the youths. His candidature has sent the shockwaves down the spinal cords of the other aspirants, especially his organizational ability and networking with the youth and women groups. He has been conducting Harambee fund drive for the various economic and social projects all the places in Nyanza ever since he made his intention to run for the Senate seat early last year. And perhaps he is the most visible aspirant in the region.
Alila promised his opponents a real and bruising battle comes next year.
Ends