FIVE aspirants will challenge former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara in the ODM primaries.

The latest entrants into the race are Ombasa Apepo and the only woman who has declares her interest, Rosemary Obara. Obara, the chairman of the Gusii Water and Sanitation Company, wants to make history by becoming the first woman to win a parliamentary seat in Gusii. Apepo was last week endorsed during a meeting at Tabaka and told to face Magara in the party primaries.

My supporters have told me to join ODM which is the most popular party in the constituency, and I'm ready to take Magara head on," Apepo said. Others ODM contestants are Gucha South KNUT treasurer Zebedeo Nyaboga and former high school principal Ibrahim Ochoi. Magara, at the weekend, agreed with the aspirants that the party will carry out free and fair nominations. So far 12 aspirants have declared their interest in the seat which fell vacant after Magara's election was nullified by high court judge Daniel Musinga sitting in Kisii in December.

Others are Manson Nyamweya of Ford People, David Kombo of ODM Kenya, PNU's Rashid Miyonga, Dr Ezekiel Okemwa, Master Ondara, Mauti Sagwe, Henry Nyabuto and Kisii lawyer David Mogunde. The aspirants have started campaigns although the official campaign period has not been set by the Interim Independent Electoral Commission.

At the weekend, seven aspirants campaigned at a funeral in Nyamarambe, while Apepo and Miyonga held meetings with supporters at a Kisii hotel. Miyonga urged constituents to elect a development conscious leader.

The South Mugirango by-election is set for June and if what happened at the weekend is anything to go by, the election could be marred by violence. Some speakers were heckled, cheered and jeered by mourners who attended the burial of James Ochwando at Nyamarambe on Saturday.