COUNTY POLITICS: Agenda for women and youth to shape Woman Rep's race in Siaya

The contest for Siaya County Woman Representative’s seat is turning out to be a race pitting the incumbent Dr Christine Ombaka and two rivals who have vowed to send her home for what they term, poor performance.

Dr Ombaka, a former Maseno University don, will battle it out with Ms Florence Aluodo for the ODM ticket. Whoever wins will face Jubilee Party’s Violet Omwamba in the August 8 General Election.

She won the seat in 2013 after trouncing her closes rival Dr Concelia Ondiek, wife of former Ugenya MP Arch Bishop Stephen Ondiek.

But even as she seeks re-election, Dr Ombaka is being taken to task by her rivals who insist she has nothing to show for the four years she represented Siaya County in the National assembly.

Siaya is ODM leader Raila Odinga’s home county.

DONE NOTHING

“It is very unfortunate that my opponents claim that I have done nothing during the past four years.

The truth of the matter is that I have supported lots of women and youth groups in the county by empowering them through the ‘Uwezo’ and ‘Affirmative action’ funds,” she says.

She says her re-election campaign is based on three pillars - improved access to education, economic empowerment of youth, women and people living with disability as well as improved healthcare.   

“These are the issues I will focus on should I be elected for a second term,” said the lawmaker in an interview.

She claims to have transformed the lives of many Siaya residents and hopes to do more once re-elected.

She, however, regrets that the funds allocated to the Woman Reps docket was very little to support the increasing demands of the youths and women in the country. 

MAJOR BATTLE

However, Ms Omwamba, a director at the Lake Victoria South Water Services Board (LVSWSB), tells the incumbent to brace herself for a major battle.

She explains that her decision to vie for the seat on a Jubilee Party ticket was because of its rising popularity in parts of Nyanza and Western regions.

She accused the incumbent of giving women and youths ‘a raw deal’ by not adequately taking care of their welfare despite having being allocated resources.

“I want to urge Siaya residents to elect me to the office since my vision resonates well with them,” says Ms Omwamba.

The aspirant says her focus will mainly be on improved access to education, clean water as well as improved healthcare.

“I am 110 percent sure of winning the race. Voters will elect me regardless of the political vehicle I will use. My main aim is to transform the lives of the electorates,” says Mrs Omwamba.

WATER PROJECT

Ms Omwamba boasts of initiating talks between Siaya County government and World Bank, that led to the establishment of the Sh2 billion ‘Ndanu falls water project’ to be officially launched next month by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“I have done a lot in the one-and-a-half years compared to what Dr Ombaka has done in five years. This is proven by the support and appreciation I receive on the ground,” she says.

On her part, Ms Aluodo, has in the past two years traversed the county selling her candidature while accusing the incumbent of failing the women and youths by not articulating their issues.

The 37 year-old researcher and social worker has also vowed to transform the lives of Siaya residents if elected.

TRANSFORM REGION

“It is clear that the incumbent has not performed. I am ready and willing to take over the seat and transform this region like never before,” she says.

“It is for this reason that I have thrown my hat into the race. I will for sure, emerge victorious,” said Mrs Aluodo.

The aspirant says she will use her resource mobilisation capabilities and wide networks built in the civil society work her advantage.

She, however, called on ODM leaders to honour Mr Odinga’s assurances that the primaries will be free and fair.