By Dorothy Musyoka
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate Moses Okoth Omondi has been declared the new Member of Parliament for Ugunja Constituency after securing a victory in a by-election held on Thursday.
Omondi, who previously served as the Ugunja constituency manager, garnered 9,447 votes, outperforming nine other contenders to become the second MP of the constituency.
The results were announced in the early hours of Friday by the constituency returning officer, Denis Omare, at Ambira High School.
Wiper Patriotic Front’s Dr. Orodi Odhiambo followed with 1,819 votes, followed by Fredrick Ochiel (UDA) with 1,200 votes and Benson Otieno with 1,171 votes (United Green Movement).
Other candidates included Maurice Juma Okumu (Liberal Party of Kenya) (381 votes, Vincent Olengo (Kenya Moja) (333), Chrispin Omondi (KANU) 188 votes , Lillian Akech National Alliance Party 182 votes) , Erick Ofiro (Jubilee Party 91 votes, and Oliver Ochieng (National Liberal Party) 56 votes.
According to IEBC Returning Officer Denis Omare, voter turnout stood at 24 percent, with only 15,017 of the 60,114 registered voters participating in the poll.
In his acceptance speech, Omondi expressed gratitude to the people of Ugunja for their confidence in his leadership.
He pledged to serve all residents irrespective of political affiliation and to work closely with his former competitors to advance development in the constituency.
Omondi now succeeds Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, who was the pioneer MP for Ugunja after it was carved out of the larger Ugenya constituency.
Wandayi vacated the parliamentary seat upon his appointment to the Cabinet in the broad-based government.