Eleven candidates have been cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to battle it out for the Ugunja Parliamentary seat during next month’s by-elections.
Five of the candidates, Benson Obol Otieno (United Green Movement party), Eric Ofiro (Jubilee Party), Vincent Olengo (Kenya Moja), Fredrick Ochiel (United Democratic Movement), and Oliver Ochieng’ (National Liberal Party) presented their papers to the Constituency Returning Officer and were cleared on Wednesday.
Thursday, six more candidates, Lilian Akinyi (National Alliance Party), Moses Omondi (Orange Democratic Movement), Orodi Odhiambo (Wiper Democratic Movement), Maurice Okumu (Liberal Party of Kenya), and Chrispine Oduor Budo (KANU) received green light to contest for the seat.
Each of the candidates later planted a tree at the IEBC compound, a sign of commitment to peace. The candidates later left to hunt for votes in convoys of vehicles.
Addressing the media at the IEBC offices in Ugunja, Commissioner Mary Caren Sorobit called on the candidates to conduct their campaigns peacefully and called on the residents to turn up and exercise their democratic right during the by- elections.
Sorobit said IEBC was committed to conducting free, fair and credible by-elections in Ugunja and other areas where by elections would be taking place in November.
Addressing the public at Ugunja, ODM candidate Moses Omondi who was flanked by top party officials, among them Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi and Siaya Senator Dr. Oburu Oginga called for peaceful campaigns.
He urged his opponents during the party nominations to forget the past and join him in ensuring that the party retains the seat that was previously held by Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi.
By Philip Onyango
