Ugunja residents caution ODM candidate ahead of by-election

Ugunja residents have told the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate, Moses Omondi, not to bank on support from Energy and Petroleum CS James Wandayi and instead go out and woo voters if he is interested in a landslide victory.

The Ugunja business fraternity, led by Peter Otolo, said the ODM candidate risks losing the seat to opponents or earning victory with few votes unless he gets out of his comfort zone and seeks votes.

“We have established that Moses, whom we are supporting, has developed cold feet and is doing little campaigning on the ground because his former boss (Wandayi) assured him of maximum support,” Otolo stated.

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Even though Moses got full backing from Wandayi, that should not be the reason to stay away from the people, especially during these crucial hours.

The residents claimed that Omondi was last seen in public the moment he was cleared by the IEBC to run for the seat, raising questions about whether he is determined to win.

“Other worthy competitors have been seen going round Sidindi, Sigomere and Ugunja to marshal support, while Moses is reluctant and not disturbed at all,” Otolo added.

Unlike in Homa Bay, where campaign activities are ongoing with the ODM brigade pitching tents and wooing voters in favour of their candidate Boyd Were, the son of the late Ongondo Were.

“Politics is dynamic, and Moses shouldn’t be misled that all eggs are now in one basket. Long gone are the days when elections in certain areas would end with the nominations. We have gauged what the public wants,” Otolo remarked.

Moses’ victory should be a landslide one that is beyond questioning, just as was witnessed during Wandayi’s era.

Failing to capitalise

Otolo also faulted leaders who have formed the habit of going around with Moses instead of consolidating votes in his favour.

It is reported that Wandayi, while attending a church service at St Peter’s Rangala Trinity Parish, assured Moses of victory, saying he was going to bankroll his campaigns as a broad-based candidate.

“I had distanced myself from party nominations for the people to make their rightful choice, and now that Moses is the broad-based candidate, I will back him up,” Wandayi had said.

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The sentiments by Wandayi came just two weeks after he declared support for Moses, saying that as long as he still breathes, nobody would become an MP unless he endorses them.

Moses, on his part, ruled out notions that he had distanced himself from campaigns.

“Immediately we were cleared by the IEBC, we went round Ugunja Sub-county and sad news of Raila’s death reached us. We had to stop campaigning, and after his burial, we opted for other forms of campaigns and not public rallies,” said Moses.

Moses urged Ugunja residents not to abandon him in the November 27, 2025, by-election.

“I have a date with all Ugunja residents. Do not disappoint me. Ugunja will decide on November 27, 2025, by electing a leader of their choice, and I am praying that I will emerge victorious,” he said.

Different strategy

However, Omondi’s strong ally, Jerry Williams Ochieng, defended Moses strongly, saying that Raila’s death had slowed down campaigns, but they had now gathered momentum, though not focusing on public rallies.

“We have adopted styles of campaigning that are different from the grassroots campaigns we did before the nominations,” said Ochieng.

Ochieng said they have adopted different campaign strategies, including door-to-door, boardroom, and phone calling as ways of wooing voters.

“We are focused on key groups, including teachers, all assistant chiefs and chiefs, and village administrators who come from the Ugunja community. We had rallies in Ugunja before the IEBC clearance.

“Nothing has changed in Team Moses in terms of meeting people. We have many Ugunja people who are in Nairobi and Kisumu, whom we are meeting through phone calls.

“We have Ugunja residents in cities whom we meet in boardroom meetings, and sometimes Moses travels to Nairobi for such meetings.

“It is true that before the nominations, we concentrated in the village, and after the nominations, we realised there is a huge number of people who hold diaspora votes that were not reached.

“Our target group is the diaspora, whom we meet through phone calls, boardrooms and one-on-one, so the people of Ugunja should not feel that we are not campaigning. We have just adopted different strategies in this.

“Moses has just resumed and has done his first meeting today in Sidindi Ward, and we have scheduled such meetings until Friday. On Saturday, we will have a major rally.”