Hellen Obado: My husband has quit my campaigns when I need him

Ms Hellen Odie, the wife of outgoing Migori governor Okoth Obado, claims that her husband has abandoned her to campaign on her own, despite the fact that she had supported him for the previous two administrations.

Ms Odie, who has eliminated the name Obado from her campaign posters, alleged that the governor’s second term had abandoned her when she declared her candidacy for the Migori women representative’s seat.

She spoke at a series of rallies on Thursday, culminating in the beginning of her campaign at the Sibuoche Trading Centre in West Kanyamkago, in her Uriri constituency.

“Please, my people, help me secure this seat. You all know how much I helped Obado to become the first Migori governor. Sadly, he has left me on my own, he doesn’t want to stand with me,” she said in Amoso village after commissioning a water project.

“Mama County”, as she is commonly referred as, recently distanced herself from Mr Obado’s backing for Kenya Kwanza presidential contender William Ruto and instead drummed up support for Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition flag-bearer Raila Odinga.

She told reporters after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) approved her to run as an independent candidate in the August 9 elections that she only had one vote, which she said was definitely secured for Mr Odinga.
Her stance contrasts sharply with that of her husband, who has exploited every public and social chance to attack Mr Odinga and the Azimio coalition.

She insisted on not being connected with her husband and urged voters to think about what she can do for them instead.

This, she explained, is why her campaign posters refer to her as Helen Adhiambo Odie rather than Hellen Obado.

She chose to run as an independent candidate rather than join her husband’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in order to avoid the “Obado” label in her campaigns.

She even dropped the name Obado in favor of her father’s name, Odie, on her campaign materials.

Mr. Obado’s legacy, which includes being indicted in court for corruption and murder (which he has denied), has elicited conflicting reactions from his wife’s campaigns.

Mrs Obado will be pitted against Denittah Ghati (ODM), Fatuma Mohammed (independent), and former radio journalists Josephine Sirega (independent) and Lillian Akugo (Jubilee).