Homa Bay UDA youth leadership woos ODM counterparts

UDA youth leadership in Homa Bay is luring ODM counterpart to decamp and join President William Ruto's ruling party.

Youth League Chairman Kevin Ouma, Secretary Wayne Odote, Organizing Secretary Evans Oloo and Assistant Coordinator Kennedy Ongati argued that opposition politics are not beneficial to the community.

“It’s the government that employs people hence our calls for youths in Homa Bay to join UDA. Let youths register with the ruling party to enjoy government goodies,” Ouma said.

Speaking on Saturday when they took their enlisting campaigns and election of ward and constituency officials to Rangwe constituency, Ouma who quit ODM youth leadership and joined UDA a few months ago said they are mobilizing young people in the county to join UDA.

He said they are in talks with young people in the ODM party to join UDA.

“We welcome everybody in this county to join UDA because this is the political party that looks at the welfare of the youth,” he said.

During the election, they elected officials at the constituency level and in four wards in the area.

The elections were presided over by the county coordinator in John Odek.

Peter Agunyo was elected the youth league chairman in the Rangwe constituency while David Ochola and Evelyn Nyoiro were elected secretary and treasurer respectively among other officials.

In the ward elections, Maurice Ouma was elected the youth league chairman in Kagan ward, Evans Otieno (Kochia), Joseph Odhiambo (West Gem) and Michael Ogeda (East Gem).

Odek said the elections are aimed at putting structures in place to ensure UDA gets the support of 50 percent of Homa Bay residents by 2027.

He urged the elected officials to ensure they sell the agenda of the party and President Ruto at the grassroots.

“The structures we are putting in are aimed at ensuring UDA is equally vibrant to any other political party in this region,” said Odek.

Odote said they are putting concerted efforts to enable UDA to get political vigour in Homa Bay.

He called on the officials to work in unity and ensure they register more people into the party.

“I believe UDA will be equally strong in this county. I appeal to residents of our county to take the paradigm shift in politics to enable us to realize change,” Odote said.

Oloo argued that the time had come for residents of Homa Bay to embrace politics focused on development rather than mere rhetoric.

He said politicians have been using the youth and dumping them during the implementation of the development activities.

“Let us now focus on politics with the agenda of improving the lives of the youth by joining UDA,” Oloo said.

The Kenya Kwanza administration was asked to empower the youth so that they do not feel neglected.

“Assisting the youth will ensure they don’t feel neglected,” Ongati said.