A candidate for the forthcoming Ugenya constituency by-election has raised alarm over the high rate of voter bribery ahead of the polls slated for next Friday.
Daniel Juma Omondi of the Grand Dream Development Party (GDDP) lamented that his opponents were having a field day bribing voters and had turned the constituency into a bribery zone adding they were pouring millions of shillings in a bid to woo voters on their side.
He was speaking at Ukwala town in Ugenya on Friday while launching a one million shilling initiative that aims at empowering the youth and women with sewing skills.
Omondi cautioned the public against being swayed by money to vote for inept leaders, adding that they should use their conscience to make a decision over who will represent them in the August house.
“It is like the constituency is for auction. My opponents are competing on who can offer the highest bribe to woo voters,” he lamented.
He said that he had lodged a complaint with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) over the same and urged the electoral body to conduct speedy investigations and nail the suspects.
Omondi, who donated 10 sewing machines to the initiative, said he was the best candidate for the seat and urged voters to ignore his competitors who have had a chance to serve but left little mark in the area.
Ugenya voters go to the polls on Friday, April 5, 2019. The by-election is being held following the nullification of Christopher Karan’s election by the High Court after a petition lodged by David Ochieng.
The contest has attracted four candidates, Christopher Odhiambo Karan (ODM), David Ouma Ochieng (Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG), Brian Omondi (Third Way Alliance) and Daniel JumaOmondi (GDDP).
By Philip Onyango
