Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Awendo Town.

ODM LEADERSHIP IN Migori County have come out in full force and severely criticized those who hatched the heinous criminal attack on one of the aspirants aspiring for the powerful position of Migori County governor.

Mrs Anne Omonndi Anyanga who is vying for the position of Migori County governor was attacked in Rongo Town by rowdy youth suspected to be supporters of the Public Service Dalmas Otieno, who is also the incumbent Rongo MP.

The goons tore into pieces the T-Shirts bearing her portrait, which she had just been distributing to the electorate for free. THey demanded that she give them the money, shouting “Gonywa Gonywa”.

Sensing the danger of her personal safety Mrs Anyanga dashed to her waiting car, which drover her to safety amid hails of stones, one of which hit her car front windscreen.

Mr Omomndi Anyanga, who is the wife of Nyatatike MP Edick while on her campaign trail flew into Rongo Town and landed at the nearby Rongo Primary School which is located in the middle of the Town.

Her arrival had coincided with another political function which was taking place at the nearby Kuja School of the Deaf and Blind.On seeing the Chopper huge crowd of people who were attending the function, in which the area MP was launching his campaign in defense of his Rongo seat surged forward and dashed towards Mrs Anyanga’s Chopper.The crowd abandoned Dalmas Oteno’s meeting and went to the venue where the Chopper had landed.

Some of the rowdy youth looked excessively intoxicated with chang’aa and menacingly demanded that Mrs Anyanga give them the money.

Looking disappointed Mrs Anyanga condemned political thuggery saying some people appeared to be hell-bent on intimidating her. She asked his rivals to respect democracy and gender.She defiantly flew to other places like Opapo. Kodero Bara, Rakwaro and Raneni and continued with her campaign.

It was learnt immediately that the eldest son of the Public Service Minister Dalmas Otieno Fred Otieno was also simultaneously launching his campaign for the same position of Migori governor at a different function held in Migori Town.

Mrs Anyanga has been traversing the entire Migori County in the last two weeks using rented helicopter, which has taken her to many places inlcuding the two Kuria district of Kuria East and Kuria west, Nyatike, Uriri ,Rongo and Awendo while conducting roadside shows and public rallies.

SHe is facing one of the ODM’s stalwart Prof. Edqward Oyugi Akong’owho is perceived to be Raila Odinga’s closest friends and political adviser for the same seat. Prof Akong’Oyugi launched his campaign in Migori town last week, but it attracted only a paltry crowd.

Other candidates included the ODM’s stalwart Prof. Edward Akong’o Oyugi, who is perceived to be a close friend of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga and political advisor. The Prof. Oyugi was among the radical politicians who were detained for many years by the former Moi’s Nyayo regime for radical political activities.

Prof Oyugi who hails from Suna West launched his campaign officially last week in Migori town, but the function attracted only a paltry crowd. Other aspirants included the Kenya Sugar Board Awendo zonal director Zachary Okoth Obado who hails from North Kanyamkago in Urirri district who appeared to be the darling for the majority of sugar cane farmers in the region.

Also in the race is the youthful senior manager with the Airtail in Nairobi Mark Nyamita who hails from Central Kanyamkago in Uriri district whose candidature appeared to have attracted many youths.

However, Mrs Anyanga who is a business woman in Nairobi seemed to be the strongest and serious contender and someone to watch.

The late entry of Dalmas Otieno’s son Fred Otieno for the same position is likely not to alter anything significantly among the gains already secured by both who have been on the ground longer than one year.

Rumor making the round within Awendo and Migori as well as in Rongo is that Fred Otieno is not enjoying the political goodwill and patronage of his father Dalmas Otienm and as such his candidature is expected to make very little impact

Mrs Anyanga therefore stands the better chance of clinching the Migori governor steas, because she is the only aspirant from the votes-rich Nytatike constituency, whereas the majority of aspirants are people from Urirri and Migori constituencies.

Among those politicians who strongly condemned the attack on Mrs Anyanga is Eng.Phillip Odero Makabong’o who is contesting the Rongo parliamentary seat against Dalmas Otieno.Makabong’o appealed to the ODM headquarters to instill the highest standard of discipline including disqualification of those candidates found to be promoting war-mongering and political thuggery. He condemned the use of political goons to intimidate opponents by some politicians in the areas.

Dalmas OItieno could not be reached for his immediate comments about the attack on Mrs Anyanga by goons suspected to be his supporters in Rongo town.

Ends