Unity our only weapon, say aspirants joining forces to dethrone Ugenya MP

Former Ugenya MP David Ochieng at Kisumu high court on March 1,2018. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

Four aspirants have joined forces to dethrone Ugenya MP David Ochieng in the August General Election.

Chris Karan, Michael Oliech, Clement Okello, and Fred Ogola say one of them will face Mr Ochieng in the polls. The move, they said, will also help them avoid divisive ODM primaries.

The hopefuls said they will hold a series of meetings before settling on who will fly the ODM flag. They will also woo Roger Sagana and Daniel Odhiambo who are also seeking the Ugenya seat.

The aspirants said unity is the only sure way to defeat Ochieng. They spoke at a free medical camp in Aboke. Ugenya constituency is one of the major strongholds of ODM leader Raila Odinga in Siaya County. “The seat must go back to ODM even if it is not through me,” Ogola said.

Ochieng won the seat following a by-election. The seat fell vacant in December 2018 after the Supreme Court nullified Karan’s election.

Oliech said in the spirit of Azimio la Umoja, there was need for them to speak in one voice. Ochieng vied on the Movement for Growth and Democracy ticket after decamping from ODM.