In what can be seen as a possible power talk, two top aspirants for Ugenya parliamentary seat Hon Daniel Juma and Dr Daniel Odhiambo held lengthy discussions at the latter’s office in Nairobi.
This was the first time the two Daniels were getting to know each other with Juma posting on his social media page “I held talks with Dr. Daniel Odhiambo who paid me courtesy call from the neighboring Ardhi House in Upperhill where we both work.”
“As leaders from Ugenya, we share similar aspirations for a better #Ugenya and support His Excellency Raila Odinga’s efforts to bring peace and unity in Kenya through #Azimiolaumoja.” Juma added
Juma contested the Ugenya parliamentary seat in the 2019 by-elections with the Grand Dream Development Party and emerged third out of 4 candidates after David Ochieng of MDG who won and Chris Karan of ODM who came second. Brian Omondi of the Third Way Alliance came 4th.
On his part Dr. Odhiambo is parliamentary debut for Ugenya and has already hit the ground running hoping to catch the ODM party’s eye as the candidate who can dislodge Hon. David Ochieng whose little known MDG party caused a political upset by defeating the ODM candidate Chris Karan in its Ugenya stronghold despite the goodwill of party support and the endorsement he received from the party bigwigs. Karan’s major weakness was that he was not able to utter a single word in parliament and appeared in a list of tongue-tied MPs published by the People Daily.
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Popularity known as Daktari, the soft spoken politician has initiated several youth empowerment projects including building Boda Boda shades, and recently partnered with Mama Ida Odinga Foundation to distribute school uniforms, sanitary towels and face masks. His activities has sent shock waves in the camps of both Chris Karan and David Ochieng who dominated the politics of Ugenya since 2013 when David Ochieng replaced James Orengo who went on to be the first Senator of Siaya County.
The other new aspirants for the Ugenya seat include Nairobi Lawyer Roger Sagana and Strathmore University Don Prof Fred Ogolla. Sagana has been seen campaigning in various funerals while Prof Ogolla has organized medical camps to offer free treatment in a few places.
Juma has been on fore front spearheading different developmental projects in Ugenya since 2016 after he visited South Korea with former Prime Mnister Raila Odinga. He started the Dongruokdala CBO to empower the youth through community driven development which is modelled on Korea’s New Village Movement (Saemaul Undong)
Both Daktari and Juma have said they share the same views on Ugenya politics and have vowed to lead in mobilization of voter registration and support Hon Raila’s Azimio la Umoja. Juma comes from Ukwala ward while Daktari North Ugenya which are the two wards that have never produced a Legislator.
