Lawyer Willis Otieno | Photo courtesy|
Seasoned lawyer Willis Otieno has dismissed speculations that he is eying the Alego Usonga MP seat in the 2027 General Election.
In an exclusive interview with The Nyanza Review on Monday, December 16, 2024, Otieno firmly stated that he harbors no ambitions for the parliamentary position, which is currently held by Sam Atandi.
“I am not interested in the Alego Usonga seat, and I am not a candidate for that election,” Otieno affirmed, dispelling the swirling rumors.
Popularly known as Piki Piki Ponki, Otieno instead revealed his grander political aspirations, declaring his candidacy for Deputy President under Jimmy Wanjigi’s presidential ticket in the 2027 race.
Rumours of Otieno’s purported interest in the Alego Usonga MP seat were sparked last week, with claims that a faction within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party was championing his candidature.
According to an ODM insider who spoke to The Nyanza Review on condition of anonymity, the push stemmed from internal party intrigues and shifting alliances.
The source alleged that some ODM leaders perceive Otieno’s vocal critique of the Kenya Kwanza administration as a potential liability for the party if he continues to operate independently. Bringing him into ODM’s fold, they argue, would neutralize his influence and align him with party interests.
Further, Siaya Governor James Orengo is rumored to be at the heart of these machinations. The governor, reportedly estranged from Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi, is believed to be maneuvering to regain control of the high-stakes constituency.
“By influencing ODM operatives to front Otieno as Atandi’s replacement, Governor Orengo aims to distract Atandi from campaigning against him,” the insider alleged.
Atandi is said to be consolidating his base for Energy and Petroleum CS Opiyo Wandayi, who is widely speculated to be ODM’s preferred gubernatorial candidate for Siaya County in 2027.
Business tycoon Jimmy Wanjigi and Willis Otieno’s political partnership dates back to the 2022 elections, where Otieno was slated to be Wanjigi’s running mate under the Safina Party. However, their bid was derailed after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) disqualified Wanjigi, citing procedural shortcomings.
The IEBC claimed Wanjigi failed to meet the requisite signatures and did not submit a physical copy of his degree certificate, among other technicalities. Wanjigi, however, dismissed the commission’s decision as biased and riddled with double standards.
Despite the setback, Wanjigi has declared his intention to contest for the presidency in 2027, with Otieno reaffirming his commitment to serve as his running mate. The duo have been vocal critics of the Kenya Kwanza administration, frequently criticizing its policies and raising alarm over escalating corruption cases.
