Out of his tasks this year, Tom Ndalo believes beating Nyong’o in the August 9, polls is the simplest.
Mr Ndalo is the running mate to Kisumu Governor candidate Jack Ranguma.
Ranguma is set to square it out with incumbent Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o on August 9.
In an exclusive interview with Lake Region Bulletin, the advocate has indicated that the past few weeks in the campaign trail has shown that Nyong’o is the easiest to beat among the governors defending their seats.
Voters are slowly coming to the realization that electing a person based on their leadership ability is key, irrespective of the parties sponsoring their candidature
Tom Ndalo
“When we began the campaigns, we thought it would be an uphill task,” said Ndalo.
Nyong’o is beatable
He however says that interacting with Kisumu voters has shown that Nyong’o is beatable despite using ODM Party ticket to defend his seat.
“Voters are slowly coming to the realization that electing a person based on their leadership ability is key, irrespective of the parties sponsoring their candidature,” he said.
Before we go ahead to explain to them our development agenda, they are the first ones to give us detailed comparison of Ranguma and Nyong’o development projects in their villages, and the reasons why Ranguma should be back to the helm
Tom Ndalo
He noted: “We have been moving into the villages, and everywhere we go, Ranguma finds a project he implemented during his first term.”
He added: “Before we go ahead to explain to them our development agenda, they are the first ones to give us detailed comparison of Ranguma and Nyong’o development projects in their villages, and the reasons why Ranguma should be back to the helm.”
Ranguma who was the pioneer Kisumu Governor lost to Nyong’o in 2017 contested ODM primaries.
His attempts to reclaim the seat on an independent ticket did not materialize as Nyong’o was declared the winner in the results contested by Ranguma in court.
Ranguma has since maintained that he was rigged out, both at the party primaries and the main election.
Joining MDG
The situation saw him join Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) Party, which he is using to try to reclaim the seat on August 9.
And with the campaigns hitting the fever pitch, Mr Ndalo who hails from Kisumu West claims this is going to be an easy win for Ranguma.
“Nyong’o team used propaganda to fight Ranguma, but now it is clear for the voters to evaluate what Ranguma did in his five years versus what Nyong’o has done in five years, and they have already made a decision,” he said.
He noted that just like Nyong’o, Ranguma team supports Raila Odinga presidency through Azimio ticket, and should not be misled by six-piece propaganda.
“We are taking time to explain to the public that we are now in Azimio, and that everyone in the Azimio family supports Raila,” he said.
He added: “Their campaign manifesto was ‘electing Raila and his people’, and it is now clear that everyone in Azimio supports Raila. Let people come out and allow voters to vet them independently without the Raila tag,” said Ndalo.
Fierce campaigns
Ranguma has mounted a series of rallies in the rural sub counties to strengthen his support, with Ndalo sayng the ticket has since been accepted.
“As a finance person, I want to lead by explaining to people the utilization of county funds in Ranguma and Nyong’o governments,” he said.
People know what team Ranguma is made of, and ours will be to sensitize the public to cushion them from any further propaganda that our opponents may come up with
Tom Ndalo
He noted that a number of incomplete projects left by Ranguma have stalled, despite residents fronting the same projects for completion during public participation events during Nyong’o government.
“People know what team Ranguma is made of, and ours will be to sensitize the public to cushion them from any further propaganda that our opponents may come up with,” he said.
He added: “We will enlighten the people to interrogate manifestos, and let them understand that six-piece chants are sideshows.”