Suna East MP and National Assembly Minority Whip, Junet Mohammed has endorsed the incumbent Migori Governor, Ochilo Ayacko for re-election into the top county seat in 2027.
Junet Mohamed noted that the governor would not be challenged by anyone within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party for the seat.
Similarly, his sentiments were echoed by ODM party via their official X account.
“He (Junet Mohammed) says the only time there will be a vacancy in the office of Governor of Migori is 2032,” the post by ODM party documented.
This opinion by Junet comes not long after he landed in Migori County alongside ODM party leader and the leader of opposition, Raila Odinga.
The two had attended the burial of former Masaba MCA, Abedi Maroa which was held at Kombe village on Saturday, 25th November.
Other leaders who had attended the funeral include Kuria West MP Mathias Robi, Migori senator Eddy Oketch, Migori Woman Representative Fatuma Mohammed and Suna West MP Peter Masara.
Awendo MP Walter Owino and Nyatike MP Tom Odege were also in attendance.
Raila-Junet Visit to Migori County
Further, in their itinerary, Junet Mohammed and Raila Odinga plan to attend a series of events organized Governor Ochiko Ayacko in Migori county.
Additionally, Raila’s visit to Migori County is in a bid to ramp up support for ODM party in the entire Nyanza region.
Notably, Migori County and Nyanza region has been an ODM party stronghold.
However, the constant visits by President William Ruto and other UDA party leaders and officials has threatened this status quo.
Also Read: ODM Governor Shuts Down Raila, Vows to Work with Ruto
Furthermore, former Migori County Governor, Okoth Obado noted this while speaking during a UDA sensitization meeting at Ramba Catholic Church in Siaya town on 15th November 2023.
“Of the over 400, 000 registered voters in the county, records at the Registrar of Political Parties show that UDA membership in Homa Bay is racing past 200,000,” Okoth Obado cited.
Nonetheless, Raila Odinga took his visit to Migori as an opportunity to point out President Ruto’s flaws in running the country.
“Someone crisscrossed the country lying to Kenyans that he will reduce the cost of living; today he has become a tourist. He is globe-trotting and he only comes back home to change clothes then board the plane again,” Raila noted.
Furthermore, Raila is expected to preside over the listing of new ODM party members.
Governor Ayacko Woes
Governor Ochilo Ayacko has faced opposition and a war of words between him and several Migori County legislators.
This is despite his landslide win into the top seat during the 2022 elections where he floored eight of his opponents after garnering 175,226 votes.
The conflicts have consequently escalated with some of the Migori County legislators skipping his social and development functions over accusations of him undermining them.
Also Read: Charles Owino, Obado Deliver First Fruits to UDA After Dumping Raila
However, Governor Ayacko said he was ready to meet Migori’s eight legislators to chart way forward on how to cohesively work together.
“I am ready to meet the legislators as early as next week and I am open for talks,” Governor Ayacko said during the funeral.
Further, Migori County leaders spoke on the issue, hinting at possible talks to end the skirmishes between the legislators and the governor.
“Governor should talk with all of us eight legislators in Migori. These open exchange of words by some of us will end up affecting voters,”Awendo MP Walter Owino noted.
Raila shared in these sentiments noting that the conflicts were trivial in comparison to what Migori County residents expected from the leaders.
“I don’t want to see leaders talking at each other, you should speak to each other and work together for the sake of the people who put you in office, “Raila Odinga stated.
