Stalwart members of the Orange Democratic Movement party (ODM) are eyeing two politicians for the Ugunja Constituency by – election as more candidates join the race.
Information shared to this reporter by an influential member of the Orange party has it that seasoned politician Otieno Alur and former British soldier who is currently the Secretary of ODM in United Kingdom (UK) Sam Okoyo are the two candidates being eyed to fly the party flag.
One faction is advocating for Otieno Alur while the other faction is keen on ensuring that the nomination certificate is given to Sam Okoyo.
The development comes days after former MP Opiyo Wandayi, now the CS in charge of Energy and Petroleum made a public plea to the local clergies to pray for the Constituency to elect a competent member of Parliament
“And because I have resigned as your MP, I ask the clergy to pray for this constituency to get a better leader to represent us in Parliament” He said
Responding to a group of rowdy youths chanting the name of CDF manager Moses Omondi, Wandayi said that he knows all those whose name were being chanted much better than the chantees and asked them to stay calm
“As for those whose names are being called including Moses Omondi who served me as constituency manager, I know them all and I will also vote.” Wandayi noted
Initially, it was rumored that Wandayi was supporting Moses’s bid to succeed him but for what insiders term as political dynamics, the latter is yet to decide between the duo Otieno Alur and Sam Okoyo who is most suited.
A supporter of Mr. Omondi who spoke anonymously, confirmed that the team, despite intensifying campaigns across the three wards, is getting setbacks with voters questioning Mose’s integrity and his genealogy.
“Our candidate is really doing much to popularize his candidature ahead of next year’s by- election but our greatest challenge is on his integrity and originality, there are those who link him to mismanagement if the CDF funds while some question his origin, we’ve been told that his genealogy is in the neighboring Alego Usonga.” He said
Other key candidates in the race for ODM party ticket include Engineer Frederick Owino, Engineer Vincent Oduor Chengo, Vincent Omondi.
ODM party nominations
Should the two factions fail to agree on who to fly the party’s flag, there will be a nomination to identify the best candidate to face other aspirants both from other parties and those running as independent candidates.
The top leadership of the party is focusing on not only having a candidate of choice but also to unite all those who shall have lost in the nomination if it happens in order to throw their weight behind the party’s choice.
Alur enjoys massive support from the three wards but his support base is reportedly showing their allegiance to Sam Okoyo who enjoys substantial support in many parts of Ugunja.
Unlike in the political ‘marriage’ between former president Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga that so Azimio affiliate party drop their candidates in favor of ODM in areas dominated by the Chungwa party, Ugunja Constituency and other parts of the country that are set to hold by election will have candidates from the ruling party.
In a press briefing last month, the UDA secretary general Hassan Omar confirmed that the party will field candidates in all the by elections.
Seasoned politician Fredrick Oyugi Dor is until now the only member of UDA party who has declared interest in Ugunja parliamentary.
The seat was declared vacant after the area MP Opiyo Wandayi was appointed to the cabinet as CS for Energy and Petroleum in the broad based government.
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