20 in race to capture Ojode’s Ndhiwa seat

MORE than 20 candidates have declared their interest in the Ndhiwa parliamentary seat which fell vacant following the death of Internal Security assistant minister Orwa Ojode. The contestants include former Ndhiwa MP Tom Obondo, ODM Nyanza coordinator Monica Amollo and former Magistrate Charles  Kanyangi. Others  are Nairobi businessman Jeremiah Owiti, Educationist Dancun Osodo, businessman Dennis Orero, civil society activist Neto Oyugi, Louis Otieno, former Kenya Pipeline Company employee Hamilton Orata, Beatrice Ogolla and Ogutu Calleb. David Ojwang is the latest candidate to declare his interest and has vowed  to improve the education standards in the constituency.

The former Kenya National Shipping MD said  top of his agenda is education of orphaned children in the constituency. “Currently I am sponsoring over 75 total orphans in econdary schools under Pastor Isaac Ojwang Foundation initiated by his late father Isaac Ojwang,” he said. Unconfirmed reports also indicate that the widow of the former MP Mary Ojode may also join the race in an attempt to complete the term of his former husband.

According to the close sources, Mary is soon expected to launch a vigorous campaign in the constituency in an attempt to woo voters. Amolo is also seen as the favorite to clinch the seat due t her past records in development and the countries politics. She has been in the fore front advocating for the children and women rights. Oyugi who was the first runner up to Ojode in 2007 general election maintains that he is the favorite candidate to lead the Constituency.

He says he plans to improve the education standard in the Constituency which he says has deteriorated in the past 19 years since the former MP took over the leadership. “Before schools within the constituency used to appear among the top ten when the results were out but currently the Constituency only leads in the number of pregnant girls,” he said adding that this is the trend he wants to reverse.