Jubilee party is supporting its rival, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in the forthcoming Ugenya and Embakasi West by elections, Senate minority leader, James Orengo has said.
Orengo said that top Jubilee leaders, led by President Uhuru Kenyatta had openly declared that in the spirit of the handshake, they will not field candidates to fight it out with ODM.
Speaking during an ODM campaign rally at Kolali market in West Ugenya ward Sunday, Orengo who is also the Siaya senator however lamented that a former Ugenya MP, David Ochieng was out to put to ridicule the pact between the Orange party and Jubilee by mounting a challenge for the seat.
The senator said that the Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) candidate was not alone in his push to clinch the seat that was formerly held by ODM’s Christopher Odhiambo Karan whose election was nullified by the Supreme Court, occasioning the by-election.
“When you find a tortoise on top of a table, you must ask yourself how it found itself there because it is known that it cannot climb” said Orengo.
Orengo called on the Ugenya electorate not to take for granted the confidence that Jubilee has on ODM candidates, saying that they must show their trust on President Kenyatta and former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga by electing the ODM candidate.
Addressing the rally, Rarieda MP Otiende Amolo said no single individual can claim to have influenced development in the region, adding that public infrastructure was the mandate of the government.
“Do not be influenced by the tertiary colleges opened in Ugenya, these things are all over, including in Rarieda. It is a government policy and the government is establishing them in all constituencies” he said.
Ugunja legislator, Opiyo Wandayi said the by election was not about the local candidates, but a battle to affirm ODM and its leader, Raila Odinga’s supremacy in local politics.
“Ugenya is the heart of our strongholds and we cannot let it go to non ODM candidate” said Wandayi who is the ODM director of political affairs.
The rally was also addressed by legislators, Elisha Odhiambo (Gem) and Dr. Christine Ombaka (Siaya women representative) and a host of members of the county assembly, led by West Ugenya MCA, Andrecus Oduor Odongo.
Ugenya parliamentary by elections are slated for April 5, 2019 and has drawn four contestants, Christopher Karan (ODM), David Ochieng (MDG), Daniel Juma (Grand Dream Development Party) and Brian Omondi (Third Way Alliance).
By Philip Onyango
