BY MANUEL ODENY

Migori county three legislators chose to skip the Thursday Orange Democratic Movement party delegates meeting completely.

Migori governor Ochillo Ayacko had helped to organise the first delegates meeting in the county for years in a bid to strengthen the party.

“We are here to ensure we solidify our party in Migori especially ahead of next grassroots polls,” Ayacko said.

He said the unity in the party was key in ensuring ODM which has seen major onslaught by President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) remains strong.

In last polls Ayacko and Migori senator Eddy Oketch won their seats on ODM ticket while Fatuma Mohammed sailed on an independent ticket and trounced ODM candidate, former Woman Representative Dennitah Ghati.

Fatuma quickly went back to ODM fold solidly after the polls.

Out of Migori eight constituency, UDA scooped Kuria West and Kuria East seats through Mathias Robi and Marwa Kitayama respecially.

The other six constituencies were scooped by ODM.

But on Thursday only Ayacko went on a one man show to received Homa Bay governor Gladys Wanga who is the national chairman and Kisumu governor Anyang Nyong’o who is the acting party leader.

All other leaders skipped the function.

“While I was seated here only two MPs called me and sent their apologies,” Ayacko said.

He said Suna East MP Junet Mohammed and Nyatike MP Tom Odege called him that they will not attend today’s county delegates meeting.

“They are not here but are here with us,” he said.

Wanga said Junet, Awendo MP Walter Owino, Fatuma and Eddy called her and gave their apologies.

“They were tied up with assembly duties and blessed this meeting,” she said.

On Wednesday ahead of the Thursday meeting, county ODM secretary Joseph Olala said Nyamita was not welcome to the function.

“We have over a thousand delegates in Migori, Uriri MP is not one of them because he refused to pay fine as a State House rebel,” Olala told the press.

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Peter Masara, the Suna West MP chose having a morning talkshow in a national TV as more important while MP Paul Abuor of Rongo was a persona non-grata.

The three missing MPs have had public spat with Ayacko in the past over 2027 general elections with Masara and Nyamita declaring interest to unseat Ayacko.

Abuor on the other hand has accused Ayacko of sponsoring aspirant to unseat him with a simmering parallel ODM officials backing both of them.