ODM leader Raila Odinga should forget about the political support of the Western Kenya region henceforth, Lugari Member of Parliament Ayub Savula has said.

Raila has since the 2007 general elections been enjoying massive support in the region, even surpassing the support the region is giving to two of its leading sons; ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi and his Ford Kenya counterpart Moses Wetangula.

But this is soon set to come to an end according to Savula, who is the ANC Deputy Party Leader, and who now claims that the region has unanimously decided to rally behind Mudavadi going forward.

He argues that supporting Raila has not done the region any good, hence the decision to entrust a son of the region with its leadership, confident that the former Vice President will not only good leadership but the presidency in 2022 as well.

"We have been going to the national negotiating table through Raila but enough is enough. It is time for our own - Mudavadi. Any leader from Western region not with us will suffer political consequences,” he told the Star newspaper.

In response, ODM Director of Elections Junet Mohammed has said that such remarks will not discourage ODM, which, according to him, will not stop at anything in it's quest for the presidency.

"The fact is that ODM is constituted to look for political power - anything besides that is a story for us as a party,” the Suna East Member of Parliament is quoted.

ODM, however, is yet to announce its flagbearer for the contest, and recently announced that it will be carrying out a nomination process which will see all those interested in its ticket face off.

Those who have declared their interest so far include Mombasa governor Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega).

Raila's influence has been on the decline lately, with some of the regions that initially totally supported him being invaded by his rivals, with Deputy President William Ruto leading the way.

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