Ugunja: Orange Democratic Movement’s Moses Okoth Omondi is the second member of Parliament for Ugunja constituency after defeating nine opponents. Omondi, the immediate former Ugunja constituency manager, garnered 9,447 votes to be declared the MP-elect by the constituency returning officer, Denis Omare, in the early hours of Friday.
According to Kenya News Agency, Wiper Patriotic Front candidate, Dr. Orodi Odhiambo, managed 1,819 votes to take the second position. Other candidates in the race included Fredrick Ochiel with 1,200 votes, Benson Otieno with 1,171 votes, Dr. Maurice Juma Okumu, Vincent Olengo, and Chrispin Omondi, who managed 381, 333, and 188 votes, respectively. The only lady candidate, Lillian Akech, received 182 votes, while Erick Ofiro garnered 91, and Oliver Ochieng obtained 56 votes.
Declaring the results at Ambira High School, the returning officer, Denis Omare, stated that the voter turnout was 24 percent, with only 15,017 voters out of the registered 60,114 turning up to exercise their democratic right. In his victory speech, Omondi expressed gratitude to the voters for their trust and pledged to work with everyone, including his competitors, to develop the constituency.
Omondi becomes the second MP after Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, who was the pioneer MP after Ugunja was separated from the larger Ugenya constituency. Wandayi resigned from the seat to join the broad-based government, where he was appointed to the cabinet.
