Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga pleaded with voters from Ugenya constituency on Saturday not to embarrass him during the forthcoming by elections by rejecting his candidate.
Odinga said that a defeat to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate, Christopher Karan will be a slap in the face and urged voters to save him the ridicule.
He was speaking at Lifunga village in Ugenya during the burial of the late senior chief, Owino Olak.
“I was in Ugunja with President Uhuru Kenyatta to launch the construction of the Ugunja – Ukwala – Rwambwa road recently and he promised to come back to officially launch it in August. Do you want me to be embarrassed in August to have a non- ODM Member of Parliament at that time?,” he posed.
Ugenya constituency goes to the polls on 5th April, 2019 in a by election occasioned by the nullification of Christopher Karan’s election during the general elections after former MP, David Ochieng filed a petition.
The by election has attracted four candidates, among them Ochieng who will vie on Movement for Democracy and Development (MDG), Brian Omondi of the Third way Alliance and Daniel Juma of the Grand Dream Development Party (GDDP).
The ODM supremo said that his recent appointment as the Africa Union special representative for infrastructure has placed a lot of responsibilities on his desk to the point that he will not have time to campaign for his party’s candidate in Ugenya.
On corruption, Odinga said it was unfortunate that Kenyans were suffering due to embezzlement of public funds by some individuals who are supposed to ensure prudent management of resources.
He called on churches not to blindly accept donations from people who cannot explain the source of the hefty donations.
The burial was also attended by Siaya senator, James Orengo, legislators Otiende Amollo (Rarieda) and Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja) and area governor, Cornel Rasanga.
By Philip Onyango
