Migori Governor Okoth Obado’s Wife Declares Bid for Woman Representative Seat

Migori Governor Okoth Obado’s wife Hellen Obado has declared her bid for the county’s woman representative seat.

Mrs. Obado told Nation that she will be contesting for the seat in the August 9th elections as an independent candidate.

“It is true I am firmly in the race to be the third woman representative. As we are all aware, this is a public seat where anyone is free to vie. It is the public and voters who decide through the ballot and I will seek their mandate,” she told Nation on Friday.

 “I am yet to pick my symbol for the ballot, but I have started the process of being cleared by the electoral body for the August 9th contest.”

It is not clear why the Migori County First Lady decided not to vie for the position under her husband’s party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Hellen was instrumental in her husband’s election as the first governor for Migori in 2013 and his re-election in 2017.

She was key in voter and grassroots mobilization for Obado and often led separate and parallel campaigns targeting women.

As the county’s first lady, Mrs. Obado rolled out Kuku ni Pesa project that gave chicken incubators to women’s groups. She also distributed sanitary towels, toiletries, and solar lamps to women.

Mrs. Obado will face off with Dennitah Ghati, who is eyeing the Migori woman representative seat on an ODM ticket, former radio journalist Josephine Sirega and businesswoman Fatuma Mohammed, who will both be vying as independent candidates.

Also in the race is Lillian Akugo, the wife of Governor Obado’s Director of Administration Dominic Akugo. Lillian is eyeing the seat on a Jubilee Party ticket.