Karan, Ochieng supremacy battle plays out ahead of Ugenya poll

ODM's Chris Karan at the High Court in Kisumu on March 1, 2018. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

The race for Ugenya parliamentary seat has intensified with Movement For Democracy and Growth (MDG) hopeful David Ochieng and ODM nominee Chris Karan set to face off.

Executive Director of Global Peace Foundation Kenya Daniel Juma is still scouting for options after the Orange party gave direct nomination to Mr Karan to defend his seat.

Mr Juma is toying with the idea of vying as an independent candidate or backing one of the rivals.

Mr Ochieng comes from East Ugenya Ward, while Karan hails from West Ugenya and Juma is from Ukwala ward in Ugenya Sub-county.

The MDG candidate lost to Karan in the August 2017 General Election after garnering 23,418 against the rival’s 23,765.

Ochieng decamped from ODM in 2017 citing frustrations from the party leadership whom he claimed was not happy with his development track record.

He has vowed to recapture the seat to continue with the development projects he initiated in 2013.

“That is why I had projects like seeds and fertiliser donations. We are happy that the TTC is already helping very many households that supply milk and vegetables. These institutions are absorbing young people and giving them skills,” explained Ochieng.

The former MP said he is passionate about transforming livelihoods.

“It is for the people of Ugenya to decide who will be their MP. I will campaign the best way I can to sell my agenda the best way I know and to remain faithful to the agenda of Ugenya residents the best way I can. The institutions you see today like the TTC, TTI, KMTC and the forestry college were some of the projects our CDF partnered with the national government to build,” said Ochieng.

However, Juma said that East and West Ugenya have held the parliamentary seat and now it is time for Ukwala to represent the interests of the Ugenya people in the August house.

Juma holds a Bachelor of Arts in Korean Studies and Political Science from University of Nairobi. He also has a Diploma in International Studies from the Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies.

“I will make a final decision on my next move after a meeting with the party leader Raila Odinga. We had talked at length and we resorted to meet first before I tell my supporters the next cause of action,” Juma said.

He said that given a chance to represent Ugenya in Parliament, he will come up with laws to transform the education sector and promote entrepreneurship.

“Through my networks, I want the youth to acquire entrepreneurship skills. Karan has been tried and tested. We have seen no Bills in the Parliament, no maiden speech and no representation from him. His performance is below par. The court case is an excuse he was using for underdevelopment,” argued Juma.

But ODM party leader Raila in December told Ugenya residents to rally behind Karan in the upcoming by elections.

“Even President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Central Kenya turf voted six piece for Jubilee Party. I need you to vote for our candidate Karan,” Raila said.

He further told the residents that he had big plans and there is need to have foot soldiers and several MPs from the ODM party for massive support. Earlier, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna announced that ODM will not hold party nominations for the Ugenya by-election but will use legal argument to avoid nominations.

Karan’s victory was in December nullified by the Supreme Court on grounds that his election was marred by malpractices thus not free and fair.

He has already hit the ground running with rallies in Ugenya including Ochieng’s backyard in Bar Ober in Masiro where he asked residents to turn up and vote during the by-election.

But Karan, who boasts of better bursary disbursement since he ascended to power, dismissed Ochieng’s development track record claiming that he was using the national government projects to campaign and hoodwink residents.

“Ochieng was the first MP to handle half a billion shillings being sent to the CDF kitty for the smaller part of Ugenya because initially Ugenya was merged with Ugunja and people thought he was doing much, yet he did nothing,” he said. [Rawlings Otieno and Olivia Odhiambo]