By MN Reporter
Suna West MP Peter Masara is ‘ODM damu’ despite winning his seat on independent ticket, the party officials have declared.
Masara won the seat on independent ticket in last elections after the party denied him the ticket twice, flooring Joseph Ndiege.
“He was not elected on an ODM ticket, but he is ODM damu. Each time we have party functions he has represented Suna West so well than others who claim to be in the party,” ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said.
Sifuna said there are leaders who claim to be more in the party than others, but the legislator has proven his loyalty.
“Akufaae kwa dhiki ndiye rafiki, he was with the party in Ugenya, Embakasi South and even Migori senator buy-elections,” Masara said.
His sentiments was shared by Busia Woman Representative Florence Mutua who said Orange House, “recognises Masara and he is welcome in the party.”
The two were speaking at St. Celestino Oruba Catholic Church during a funds drive where the legislator got support from over 25 colleagues in the assembly.
“I came from Busia to Migori because Masara has good relations with his colleagues, the same is said with his colleagues in the house,” Mutua said.
On May 27, Nyanza leaders allied to ODM Raila Odinga through the informal group ‘duol’ derived from Luo traditional of sitting around a fire in the evening, said Masara was key in their party agenda.
Masara had hosted them at Ogada Shirikisho Church in Suna West constituency where they were hosted by Masara, a second time the leader was hosting ODM leaders in weeks.
In 2017 following bungled elections, the region’s Migori, Siaya, Kisumu and Homa Bay counties had Suna West MP Peter Masara on Independent ticket, Kisumu Town West MP Olago Aluoch on Ford Kenya, Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabir Independent and David Ochieng’ of MDG in Ugenya.
“We respect the decision by voters to elect all leaders, since Nyanza is a ODM stronghold and as the Luo community our de facto leader is Odinga, so we are all in the same boat,” Seme MP James Nyikal, who is the chairperson of the Duol said.
ODM Political Affairs Director and Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, said any elected leader in Luo, “even those elected in other parties are in ODM, we need unity in the region.”
