ODM has nominated a 47-year-old cobbler from Masiro in East Ugenya to represent the interest of people with disability in the Siaya county assembly.
The nomination of Fredrick Odhiambo Oloo surprised residents who have come to believe the party's nomination slots are the preserve of relatives of senior politicians, or well-connected individuals.
Odhiambo is one of the many leaders who turned up for the orientation at the assembly grounds on Monday ahead of swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday.
Donning a blue shirt with a worn-out collar and barefoot with neatly shaved hair, Odhiambo for the first time in his life made his way into the assembly grounds, a pair of crutches tucked to his armpits aiding his movement.
A jungle green short with orange side pockets covered his pelvic region.
When the news of his nomination was revealed, the cobbler was mending worn-out slippers at his Bondo Kolalo workshop.
The work fetches him between Sh150 and Sh200 a day.
“I am still shocked that a cobbler who is disabled like me is now here being referred to as ‘Mheshimiwa’. I cannot thank the ODM party enough,” he said.
The zeal to represent the interest of PWDs was evident in his voice.
“I know the problems bedevilling people like me in the society. Once sworn-in, I will go back to the villages and lead them in discussing solutions to their problems,”he said.
Odhiambo attributed his nomination to his loyalty and love for Governor James Orengo and the Orange party.
He said as a cobbler, he liked discussing politics at his workplace and always persuaded voters to support Orengo and Raila Odinga.
Orengo, he said, gifted him with the crutches that he is currently using and even promised to nominate him.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
