Oburu’s son-in-law eyes Kisumu MCA seat

EALA MP Oburu Oginga’s son-in-law George Abwajo has launched his bid for the Market-Milimani ward seat in Kisumu.

Abwajo, 33, wants to unseat incumbent MCA and Kisumu Central ODM chairman Seth Ochieng, aka Adui, a staunch supporter of Governor Anyang' Nyong’o.

He becomes the third member of Oburu's family to run in this year's election. Another is Elijah Oburu, the former Bondo MP's son, who has already launched campaigns for Kisumu Central parliamentary seat. 

Oburu will be running in Siaya where he wants to succeed Senator James Orengo.

His sister Ruth Odinga is eyeing the Kisumu woman representative seat

They have all said it is their democratic right to run for elective office.

“We have identity cards and can make our own decisions. It is, therefore, our right to sell our ideologies to the electorate for them to decide whether to elect us or not,” Ruth said.

Abwajo said his relationship with the Odinga family does not prevent him from running for office. 

"I am charting my own political path. I have been a student leader before and even expressed interest in this seat long before I became a relative of the Odingas," Abwajo said.

He joins the growing list of those eying the seat, including Faustine Omondi, Helen Apiyo, famously known as Tuli Tulitu, Catherine Achieng and Isaac Oburu.

They will battle out for the ODM ticket in the nominations scheduled for next month. 

Launching his bid at Mama Grace Social Hall last Friday, Abwajo outlined his 10-point agenda—education, health, boda boda, trade, business and private sector, enterprise fund, legislation, youth access to government procurement opportunities support, affirmative action and sports and arts.

He pledged to create a Sh10-Sh15 million annual education fund with trustees from the private sector, to supplement the existing ward bursary fund that does not meet the huge demand from needy bright students

He plans to push for the uptake and full enrolment of the informal and small business traders into a health insurance plan, and modernisation of the biggest health facility in the ward—Kisumu Referral Hospital.

Abwajo promised to create a model cooperative Sacco for boda boda riders through structure reorganisation and identification for a sustainable empowerment programme.

“This will be done by putting a good leadership plan, biometric registration and financial and health linkage programme,” he said.

Abwajo said he will ensure Market-Milimani ward's annual budget allocation is spent on initiatives that create and support businesses.

“We will allocate funds to support the construction and modernisation of stalls and business areas that youth and women will pay for at below-market rates or negligible fees to trade. This will be issued fairly to accommodate all traders,” he said.

Abwajo pledged to push for an increase of funds for SMEs to a minimum of Sh 300million annually.

He said through proper legislation on the Finance Bill, he will ensure accommodative levies, rates and charges to businesses and push for subsidies for new and nascent businesses owned by youth, PWDs and women.

Abwajo said his leadership will ensure that youth, people with disabilities and women get their fair share of business opportunities through strict enforcement of the 30 per cent youth access to government procurement opportunities requirement countywide.

“At the ward level, we will push for all contracts worth Sh1 million and below to youth and women's groups in the ward,” he said.

The aspirant also looks to push for real affirmative to ensure that youth, women and PWDs are represented at all levels of decision-making.

“It is time for the county executive members and other top-level positions, including other county board positions, to be represented with youthful people,” Abwajo said.

He promised to champion sports and arts bills and policies to govern county sponsorship of different teams, usage of county facilities for arts and recreation centres, partnerships on use of parks, and utilisation of sports for health, wellness and income.

But Ochieng has exuded confidence that he will retain his seat based on his development track record, especially on bursary allocation to bright needy students and development.

He also banks on the fact that he has been championing the interests of traders who now have been relocated to alternative spaces.

Ochieng, who is one of the most vocal debater in the assembly, said his ward is the most developed in the county and attributed this to collaboration with the county and national governments.

The MCA said he will mount a well-structured campaign based on ideologies to retain his seat.

“Every aspirant is welcomed to sell their policies to the people. Let people judge us based on development track-record and policies,” Ochieng said.

Edited by Josephine M. Mayuya