Moses Omondi Clinches Ugunja MP Seat in a Resounding ODM Triumph
He emphasized that being elected as the constituency’s second Member of Parliament was both an honour and a responsibility, he intends to carry out diligently.
ODM’s Moses Okoth Omondi. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
Orange Democratic Movement {ODM} has retained its hold on the Ugunja Constituency after its candidate, Moses Okoth Omondi, was declared the winner in Thursday’s by-election. The contest drew several aspirants from various political parties, with Omondi finally emerging as the winner with a commanding lead, thus reaffirming ODM’s influence in the wider Siaya region.
According to results released at the constituency tallying centre located at Ambira High School, Omondi secured an emphatic 9,447 votes, placing him far ahead of all other contestants. His closest rival, Eng. Odhiambo Orodi of the Wiper Patriotic Front, registered 1,819 votes, a gap that demonstrated the overwhelming support ODM continues to enjoy among Ugunja residents.
Other candidates trailed far behind. Fredrick Ochiel of United Democratic Movement got 1,200 votes, while Benson Otieno Obol, representing United Green Movement, managed 1,171 votes. Maurice Juma Okumu from Liberal Party of Kenya got 381 votes. Others included Vincent Olengo of Kenya Moja, with 333 votes; Chrispine Omondi Oduor of KANU, 188 votes; Lilian Akinyi from the National Alliance Party, 182 votes; Erick Ofiro of Jubilee Party, 91 votes; and finishing last was Oliver Ochieng’ of the National Liberal Party with 56 votes.
According to IEBC Returning Officer Denis Omare, who declared the results, the election recorded 15,017 voters out of the 60,114 registered, translating to a 24.9% voter turnout. Even though the participation was relatively low, the exercise was peaceful across all the polling stations, with only minor delays reported in just a handful of locations.
In his acceptance speech, Moses Omondi expressed deep gratitude to the people of Ugunja for bestowing their trust in him. He emphasized that being elected as the constituency’s second Member of Parliament was both an honour and a responsibility, he intends to carry out diligently.
Omondi reiterated his commitment to ensuring continuity in the development agenda fronted by his predecessor, James Opiyo Wandayi, who vacated the seat following his appointment as Cabinet Secretary for Energy. Amongst his top areas of priority were continuity in ongoing projects, from infrastructure to youth empowerment.
He further called on his opponents to join hands with him, stressing that competition should not hinder collaboration in serving the people. Omondi encouraged unity amongst residents and leaders alike, saying that progress in Ugunja can only be achieved through collective effort. With the result now confirmed, Omondi is set to take his seat in Parliament, where expectations are high that he will build on past gains and steer Ugunja to further socio-economic advancement.
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