COUNTY POLITICS: Otuoma’s exit from Funyula seat leaves MP race wide open

The race for the Funyula parliamentary seat has narrowed down to five candidates – all who are seeking to replace Dr Paul Otuoma, who will run for the Busia governor seat as an independent candidate after falling out with ODM.   

Already, all the major political outfits namely – Amani National Congress, ODM, Jubilee Party, Ford Kenya and Labour Party of Kenya (LPK) have identified candidates expected to battle it out in the polls.

They include former Knut Busia branch executive secretary Mark Oseno, who will fly the ANC flag, Dr Oundo Mudenyo (ODM), Eugene Masombo (Ford Kenya), George Ogando (Jubilee) and Davis Omanyo (LPK).

IT consultant Pius Busera, who lost in the ODM primaries, will vie as an independent.

LACK OF CLEAN WATER
Clan, parties’ popularity and financial muscle will be a determining factor.

Campaigns in the constituency have intensified in the last one month, with aspirants traversing the four wards of Nangina, Namboboto, Bwiri and Ageng’a Nanguba wards.

Despite the constituency bordering Lake Victoria, locals continue to suffer lack of clean water.

Fishing and agriculture are the region’s main economic activities.

The region’s sole cash crop, cotton, is no longer viable.

SCALING UP EDUCATION
Dr Otuoma, in an interview with the Saturday Nation, says he transformed the education sector in the constituency by doubling the number of secondary schools from nine to 18.

“My constituency has one of the best schools, with all primary schools connected to the national electricity grid,” he says.

He points out that from just one girls’ secondary school when he took over from the then Vice-President Moody Awori in 2007, the number has risen to five.

Dr Otuoma further states that he has assisted in the upgrading of Sio Port Health Centre to a sub county hospital, 10 other health centres, he adds have also been constructed under his watch.

“The security situation in Funyula was bad. You could not walk from 6pm. I have built over nine modern AP camps that have helped weed out criminals,” he stated.

PREVIOUS CONTESTANTS
Analysts agree that the incumbent has performed well and his exit from parliament in favour of the governor’s seat leaves the race wide open.

Apart from Mr Oseno, who regards himself as ‘fresh blood’, other candidates have contested the elections before.

Dr Mudenyo, who believes he is a cut above the rest, vied on the UDF ticket in the last election and finished second.

He clinched the ODM ticket this time. The party remains the most popular in the county, making him firm favourite to take the seat.

“I am more than prepared both logistically and physically for the race. I cannot see any threat among my rivals,” he says.

His love for education has seen him sponsor many young people from the constituency to attend schools and colleges.