Democratic Alliance Party of Kenya (DAP-K) has warned Azimio La Umoja coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga to stop favouring his ODM.

DAP-K deputy party leader Ayub Savula said at the weekend that Raila should be cautious in his support for ODM candidates in Western Kenya if he values a structured and coordinated campaign by parties and candidates supporting his State House bid.

Asked what DAP-K was planning after ODM handed direct tickets to MPs Tindi Mwale (Butere) and Oscar Nabulindo (Matungu), Savula said the ANC MPs had not registered as DAP-K members.

“Shifting from DAP-K to ODM is inconsequential. That is just one vote but Raila should know that handpicking leaders and asking us to elect them may boomerang on his candidature,” he told supporters in Likuyani Constituency.

The Lugari MP insisted he was firmly in the race to succeed Governor Wycliffe Oparanya through DAP-K. However, Savula will have to fight it out in the nominations with Kakamega Deputy Governor Philip Kutima. Two candidates, Senator Cleophas Malala of ANC, and Fernandez Barasa of ODM-Azimio have received direct tickets from their parties.

Ticket row

Last week, Raila made an extensive campaign tour of Western Kenya where he gave direct tickets to aspirants Barasa, Elsie Muhanda (Kakamega Woman Rep) and MPs Nabulindo, Mwale, Bishop Titus Khamala (Lurambi), Christopher Aseka (Khwisero) and Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo).

A plan to hand former Shinyalu MP Silverse Anami the ODM ticket aborted after supporters of sitting MP Justus Kizito protested.

Yesterday, Savula said Kizito would be the DAP-K candidate for Shinyalu after he ditched ODM. Efforts to get a confirmation from Kizito were not successful as he did not answer our calls. Savula said that though Azimio partner parties are committed to supporting Raila’s candidature, the “big brother” syndrome by ODM leaders could make or break his candidature.

“I’m the most experienced in this group of candidates vying for the governor’s seat. I need your support so I can turn the wheels of development in the norther zone,” he said.