11 members picked to lead Azimio presidential campaign team
The Azimio la Umoja Coalition has partitioned into sixteen regional teams led by Cabinet Secretaries, Governors and Members of Parliament who will drive Raila Odinga’s presidential campaign across the country.
Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua lead the presidential team of eleven surrogates drawn primarily from ODM and Jubilee, including MPs Junet Mohammed, Mishi Mboko, Opiyo Wandayi, Maina Kamanda, Kanini Kega, Richard Onyonka, Caleb Amisi and Babu Owino as well as former presidential candidate Peter Kenneth, Nyeri deputy governor Carol Karugu and unsuccessful Kisumu Senate aspirant Phillip Pande.
Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani will oversee Odinga’s campaigns in Wajir, Garissa, Mandera, Isiolo and Marsabit counties.
The team includes Governors Ali Robam and Ali Korane, as well as MPs Adan Keynan, Fatuma Gedi and Fatuma Dullo, among others.
In Mombasa Odinga’s group is led by Ali Hassan Joho, who is joined by Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja, MPs Abdulswamad Shariff and Naomi Shaban, and Suleiman Shabhal.
“Raila is a man of history. By choosing a female Deputy, we are destined for victory and we are ready to roll up our sleeves and hit the ground,” Joho said.
Wycliffe Oparanya, the ODM deputy party leader, and Eugene Wamalwa are leading Odinga’s campaigns in Western.
Governors Sospeter Ojaamong, Wycliffe Wangamati and Wilber Otichillo are also on the team, as are MPs Wafula Wamunyinyi, David Eseli, Ayub Savula and David Eseli.
Odinga’s campaign in Nyanza is led by James Ongwae, John Mbadi, and Simba Arati. Members include Governor Cornel Rasanga, Senators James Orengo, Ochillo Ayacko and Okong’o Omogeni, and MPs Millie Odhiambo, Peter Kaluma and Gladys Wanga.
Tim Wanyonyi and Rachael Shebesh will lead the team in Nairobi, which includes MPs Babu Owino, Tom Kajwang, George Aladwa, Esther Passaris and Mercy Gakuya. Others include Nairobi governor candidate Polycarp Igathe and Senate candidate and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.
Odinga established the National Azimio Women and the National Azimio Youth in addition to the provincial campaign teams.
The women’s team is organised into three groups: Women’s team A is led by Charity Ngilu, B by Gladys Wanga, and C by Rahab Muilu, while the young team is separated into two – Team A is led by IG Ngugi, while Team B is led by Philip Pande.
Beatrice Elachi, Rachel Shebesh, Rosa Buyu, Beatrice Askul, Fatuma Gedi, and Judy Pareno make up Ngilu’s team, while Jerusha Mong’ina, Naisula Lesuuda, Naomi Shabban, Florence Mwangangi and Janet Ongera make up Wanga’s team.
Muilu has the Maendeleo ya Wanawake wing on her side to help her spearhead the Azimio presidential candidacy.
Hezena Lemeyatian, Dennis Mbada, Alex Matere, Ivy Muchoki, Antony Manyara, Advice Mundaro, Solomon Kuria, Jaoko Oburu, Jeremy Ochieng’, John Anditi and Charles Dienya make up Ngugi’s young team.
Pande leads Team B, which includes Janet Ruthuku and Leah Thanji.
