Former British Soldier Sam Okoyo keeps an eye on Ugunja Constituency By-election 

Former British soldier Sam Okoyo (center) with his former colleagues at a past event|photo courtesy|

Sam Okoyo, the Secretary General for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party in the UK, is determined to reshape politics in his home area of Ugunja Constituency.

With over 20 years of experience in insurance, Okoyo has been active in Ugunja politics. In the 2022 general elections, he aimed to challenge the then-Ugunja MP, now CS for Energy and Petroleum Opiyo Wandayi. However, an intervention from party officials led him to support the ODM candidate, who won a third term, defeating Oyugi Dor from the United Democratic Movement party.

Okoyo has been running various programs in Ugunja to uplift the community and fight poverty.

Through the Sam Okoyo Resource Center, established in 2022 in Ugunja town, he supports vulnerable children with school fees, empowers women and youth through a poultry farming initiative called Kuku ni Pesa (poultry is money), and provides table banking for financial inclusion and poverty reduction.

The son of Richard Okoth, ex-Senior Chief and the current Chair (Ker) Luo Council of Elders, Siaya County, began his education journey at Ambira Primary School and continued at Vihiga High School. In 2004, Okoyo moved to the UK for a graduation ceremony and young insurance professionals (YIP) workshop with the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). A year later, he joined the British Army, serving for 8 years, including in the Gulf War. After his *HM Armed forces* service, he joined Lloyd’s of London and worked with various Lloyd’s Syndicates and Brokers in London.

Okoyo studied at the University of East London (UEL), earning a BA (Hons) in Business Management and Finance, and a Master of Laws (LLM) in Insurance Law from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). He is an Associate member of the Chartered Insurance Institute (ACII) in the UK and currently serves as ODM Diaspora UK Chapter Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of the AZIMIO La Umoja Diaspora UK Chapter. He also led the National Super Alliance (NASA) as Chief Executive Officer.

A sociable and likable individual with a keen understanding of global geopolitics, Okoyo is committed to the sustainable empowerment of communities. He believes his diverse background, including his decade-long military service and experience in the UK, makes him well-suited to serve as Ugunja Constituency’s Member of Parliament.

His honors from the British Army include the Iraq War Medal Without Clasp and Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. Okoyo is eager to put Ugunja Constituency on the global development map.

The Ugunja Constituency MP seat was left vacant following Opiyo Wandayi’s appointment as CS in the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum.

As the IEBC prepares for a byelection, several candidates have expressed interest, including Ugunja Constituency CDF manager Moses Omondi, Oyugi Dor, Engineer Frederick ZB Owino, Joseph Alur, and Engineer Vincent Chengo.