NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga. [Photo/Daily Nation]
The independent candidate phenomenon resurfaced again to haunt NASA presidential flag bearer in his perceived stronghold on Monday in Siaya county.
Odinga campaigns in Rarieda, Siaya county turn into a field of chaos after rival groups clashed causing his meeting to end prematurely, Rarieda is home turf to Nicholas Gumbo vying as an independent candidate against the incumbent Governor Cornel Rassanga for the Siaya gubernatorial seat.
Gumbo defected from ODM after claiming to have been rigged off during the ODM primaries.
The ODM brigade led by Siaya Senator James Orengo was however bullish despite the objection from the public to vote a six-piece formation.
"If you are in power and you don't have numbers in parliament then your government is useless. We want ODM to have the highest number of MPs in parliament, how many agree that we shall vote in six piece," said Orengo amidst cheers from the crowd.
Raila marked his territory in Sega, Ugunya, Radieda, Bondo, and Siaya town, the opposition leader decrying voter apathy in his backyard as the main undoing in his campaigns.
"I have grabbed the leopard by the hand, will you turn out in large numbers on 8 August," said Odinga.
It is a headache that refuses to go away the independent candidate backlash rearing its head and playing out in public again but Raila remained adamant and defiant rooting for six piece voting pattern.