• Koyoo said all aspirants are free to sell their ideologies and tell the electorate what they want to do for them.
• The MP called for political tolerance among elected leaders and hopefuls, saying it was healthy for unity and growth.
Image: MAURICE ALAL
Muhoroni MP Onyango Koyoo has said he is prepared for a political battle with competitors eager to unseat him.
Koyoo is serving his second term.
Former Kisumu county assembly majority leader Samuel Ong’ow, businessman and former Kisumu governor aspirant Hezron McObewa, former Kisumu finance executive Joseph Omulo Okal and Omulo Okowa are eyeing the seat.
Koyoo said all aspirants are free to sell their ideologies and tell the electorate what they want to do for them.
“In fact, we want all aspirants to be on the ballot. This will allow voters to choose leaders of their choice depending on your character, development and track record,” Koyoo said.
He advised aspirants to focus on issue-based politics as they woo voters to support their bid, saying it was their democratic right.
“Do your campaigns peacefully and let the voters evaluate you on what you’ve done and plan to do for them and then make wise decisions,” Koyoo said.
The MP called for political tolerance among elected leaders and hopefuls, saying it was healthy for unity and growth.
Koyoo said attacks and heckling of leaders is not healthy for development, as it hampers implementation of projects and jeopardises peaceful coexistence.
He expressed confidence that he will retain the seat and urged his constituents to unite and defend the development gains made under his leadership.
Koyoo said he has helped connect electricity to schools and developed road networks since he took over in 2013.
He has been sponsoring students who do well in the KCPE exam and get admission to national secondary schools.
On Friday, Koyoo disbursed bursaries worth Sh15 million to 1,510 students at universities and colleges.
He said the CDF committee pays 90 per cent of the fees for needy and vulnerable children and they have restructured the bursary scheme to benefit deserving students.
“Their school fees will be paid in full until they complete secondary education, irrespective of the economic status of their parents,” he said
The legislator said the bursary allocation will be increased by five per cent of the annual budget of the CDF fund.
Koyoo said he is committed to ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, have access to education.
He said students taking engineering, medicine and architecture courses will also be funded to encourage more to enrol for the courses.
He has been praised by education stakeholders including Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha and Sports CS Amina Mohammed for his bursary model.
The MP said his track record speaks volumes and expressed confidence in retaining his seat.
He said he has built classrooms, dormitories and dining halls in both primary and secondary schools.
Ong’ow has been campaigning to seek support for his parliamentary bid. He has been meeting elders, youth and women from the five wards to woo voters for his candidature.
The former Masongo/Nyang’oma MCA has pledged transformative leadership for the people of Muhoroni, saying he was the best and right person for the job.
Koyoo, McObewa, Okal and Ong’ow are seeking the ODM party ticket.
They are optimistic of winning as they are banking on their track record.
McObewa has been traversing Muhoroni constituency to popularise his candidature.
Koyoo and Ong’ow come from Masogo/Nyang’oma ward. Okal and McObewa, come from Miwani and Ombeyi respectively.
“My campaigns will be issue-based. I want to transform the education sector, roads and empower youths and women,” McObewa said.
Okal has also been campaigning to woo voters for his candidature to clinch the seat.
Edited by A.N