- The lawmaker's decision sparked violent protests by a section of his constituents who accused him of betraying Raila and the interests of the larger Nyanza region.
- Country Director of Global Peace Foundation Daniel Juma asked locals to embrace liberalism.
Image: JOSIAH ODANGA
Residents of Ugenya constituency in Siaya county have been urged to make peace with the past and embrace the area MP David Ochieng' who defected to the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition.
Ochieng' dumped the Raila Odinga-led Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition soon after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared William Ruto the winner of the 2022 presidential contest.
The lawmaker's decision sparked violent protests by a section of his constituents who accused him of betraying Raila and the interests of the larger Nyanza region.
The first-time legislature was sponsored to Parliament by his own party, the Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) in a region dominated by Raila's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Speaking in Ukwala during a town hall meeting with representatives of the community, security teams and other other duty bearers, Country Director of Global Peace Foundation Daniel Juma asked locals to embrace liberalism.
Liberalism, he explained, will bring about peace and allow residents to shift their attention to economic empowerment and improve their lives.
"We came to Ugenya because there are people who rioted when he joined Kenya Kwanza. We are saying that he is still your MP because you gave him the mandate; do not sideline him," Juma urged.
He emphasised that the MP, just like everyone else, has a right to make political choices.
The peace ambassador reminded his fellow constituents that Ochieng' will be managing the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) and so, it is an exercise in futility to try and treat him with contempt.
"Allow him to come home and serve you. If you are not happy with him then you can wait for 2027 and vote for someone else."
Also, Juma called on the national government to consider bringing more development projects to Nyanza, the region's pattern of voting not notwithstanding.
President William Ruto is the President for the entire country because the Constitution says so, he noted.
"Nyanza is ready for him. Let him visit the region and have a conversation with the people on how they may want their lives improved through government initiatives," Juma said on Thursday.
He thanked Nyanza residents for maintaining peace before, during and after the general elections, save for isolated incidences like the one that was witnessed in Ugenya.
Juma noted that, in the past, the people of Nyanza have been "mislabeled" but the truth is that they are just vibrant; all for a good course.
"The people of Nyanza are very colourful and vibrant and that is who we are."
The Global Peace Foundation, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and the UNDP have partnered and will be sponsoring a football tournament in Sega Township Primary School in Ugenya on the eve of Christmas Day.
The tourney is dubbed, 'Amani Kwa Ground' as it seeks to foster peace and nation building ahead of the new year, 2023.
'Amani Kwa Ground' is a sustained effort post the 'Uchaguzi Bila Noma' rallying call that the NCIC had advanced during the electioneering period of 2022.
Plan International Youth Advisor Deogracious Magero said that the town hall meeting in Ukwala trained locals on how to reduce and mitigate conflicts within communities and shift attention to economic empowerment, especially for the youth who are often hired by rogue politicians to cause tension.