Raila Defends ODM’s Position to Issue A Direct Ticket to Glady’s Wanga.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga has defended the party’s position to issue a direct ticket to Gladys Wanga to vie for Homabay Gubernatorial position in the August Elections.
Anthony Mutisya 
Odinga claims the party decided to give Wanga a direct ticket and Oyugis Magwanga as her running mate after a consensus-building meeting with contenders vying for the same seat that he personally oversaw.
During the funeral of former Kenyan ambassador to Qatar Paddy Ahenda on Sunday in Nyaore village in Homa Bay County, Odinga said he encouraged the hopefuls to agree on one flag-bearer to lower the political temperature in Homa Bay over the gubernatorial election.
The hopefuls who attended the meeting voted among themselves, and Wanga and Magwanga, who was also vying for the same job, was chosen as Wanga's running mates raila told the residents.
Incumbent Homabay County governor Cyprian Awiti, who also attended the consensus meeting said that all aspirants were invited in the meeting, which former Nairobi governor Dr. Evans Kidero, however, refused to attend the meeting.
The action, according to Awiti, was made to promote peace in the county ahead of the general election.
