Raila Odinga held a lengthy meeting with Kwale governor Salim Mvurya last weekend in his efforts to consolidate the region ahead of 2022 and also have it back him to the last man. The ODM leader was in the region for his national Azimio la Umoja convention calling for national unity.
According to multiple sources, Mvurya, who has been a Jubilee governor for two terms and beat ODM in Kwale twice (in 2013 and 2017) is closer to joining Mr. Odinga’s camp after the Sunday meeting, also attended by Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja and his Mombasa counterpart Hassan Joho.
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”He will play a more active role. They will negotiate power at the national level. He is gravitating to Raila’s side. The discussion revolved around 2022 and what cabinet positions are available for the region,” one source said.
As things stand Raila Odinga now has the support of 18 governors, including his two deputies in ODM, Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya who have dropped out of the ODM race.
Cyprian Awiti (Homa Bay), Cornel Rasanga (Siaya), Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu) , James Ongwae (Kisii), Godhana Dhadho (Tana River), Fahim Twaha (Lamu), Charity Ngilu (Kitui), Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia), Wilber Ottichilo (Vihiga) and Wycliffe Wangamati (Bungoma).
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Others are Alfred Mutua (Machakos), Joseph Ole Lenku (Narok), Kiraitu Mutungi (Meru), James Nyoro (Kiambu), Salim Mvurya (Kwale) and Nderiithu Muriithi (Laikipia).
