By MN Reporter

Migori senator Ochillo Ayacko is wearing a political smile after reports emerged that Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition is planning to do zoning across the county.

Ayacko, a front runner in all polls made public so far for the August 9 general elections will stand a better chance of zoning as Raila Odinga’s coalition is finalising on opinion polls to help pick one coalition aspirant for each of the elective seats across the country.

The Daily Nation has reported that the zoning is on it’s final stages.

“After the conclusion of nominations conducted by different affiliate parties, the successful contenders are secretly being monitored by the coalition before the results of the polls are used to decide who among them flies the coalition’s flag,” the paper reported.

This may be done within a week as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will only start receiving nomination papers, and therefore clear aspirants to become candidates to be placed on the ballot, from May 28 to June 10.

“If this strategy to field one coalition candidate for each seat is seen through, parties will withdraw sponsorship for aspirants who fail the popularity test, which could trigger acrimony as they had parted with hefty nomination fees,” the paper said.

They quoted Odinga’s presidential campaign board chairman Ndiritu Muriithi who said “the move is aims to ensure that the coalition does not give its opponents the leeway to clinch seats they would win if they fielded one strong aspirant.”

Muriithi, who is also the Laikipia Governor, yesterday told the Nation that they are doing several opinion polls across the country to give a clear picture of all the aspirants.

Already Odinga persuaded ODM candidates in Trans Nzoia county to drop their bid for DAP-K’s Goerge Natembeya as governor and done the same in Nairobi county.

In Migori, Ayacko was picked by the ODM party and under Azimio coalition there are former Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno on Jubilee, former Migori MP John Pesa on DAP-K ticket and Jane Moronge on UPIA ticket.

The coalition has brought about 20 parties and it is yet to be seen if the same can happen in other seats in Migori especially in MP race.

In two public opinion polls, Ayacko has been leading the pack.

Between November 7-14 Mizani Africa did an opinion pollgave Ayacko a 31.4% lead, Dalmas had 25.5% while John Pesa had 17.5%.

Robert Okong’o had 11.4%, Mark Ogutu had 9.1%, Christopher Rusana had 3.9% while 1.2% f voters were undecided.

On March, CORG did another survey which also placed Ayacko ahead of the pack with 32.7% followed by Dalmas Otieno who had 28.3% and John Pesa who had 17.9%.

In the poll Omondi Anyanga had 6.9% while others had 14.2%.