ODM will not associate with Gachagua, Gladys Wanga says

Speaking during a public rally at Anding'o Grounds in Kabondo Kasipul on Wednesday, Governor Wanga said the community had made a deliberate choice to remain anchored in ODM.

"As an ODM party, our people here in Kokwanyo Kakelo have affirmed that we have made a decision, a conscious decision, that we will strengthen our party, the ODM party," she told the gathering, adding that the party would be enlarged, broadened and grown in the region.

Wanga defended her participation in the broad-based government arrangement with President William Ruto, pointing to development spread across regions she said had previously been sidelined.

"We have also agreed that we have made a conscious decision that we will support the broad-based government," she said, noting that under the current administration, "Homa Bay will get development, just as will Tana River, just as will Kajiado, just as will Meru, just as will Busia."

The Governor was, however, emphatic that ODM would not entertain any coalition involving Gachagua, framing the disagreement as one of values.

"There are no values that we share as an ODM party with Rigathi Gachagua," she said. "ODM party stands for inclusion, Gachagua stands for exclusion. ODM party stands for mutual respect of all communities in this country and coexistence. Gachagua feels some communities are too small to be considered."

Wanga hit back at recent remarks attributed to Gachagua over voting numbers, accusing him of arrogance.

"Na sisi tunasema waache kiburi," she said, before leading the crowd in a call-and-response: "Tunajifanya nini? Tunajipanga!" She added a football metaphor to drive home her point about the contest ahead: "Na game ni 90. Game ni nini? Ni 90. Asikuje haraka sana, game ni 90."

She also dismissed reports of the Azimio coalition being revived, telling the crowd that ODM had already walked that road. "Hiyo mwendo ya Azimio tumetembea sisi, na tumetembea hiyo na tukazimia, na hao watazima zaidi," she said, urging rival camps to "wavae jezi yao" while the broad-based team wears its own jersey, with the political contest to be settled "kwa uwanja."