Some ODM leaders and supporters in Homa Bay stormed Oyugis town to celebrate the election of Boyd Were as the MP for Kasipul.
The leaders said the landslide win of Were, as the area MP, signified that ODM was still a strong party not only in Kasipul but also in Homa Bay County.
The party chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, MPs Peter Kaluma (Homa Bay Town) and Lilian Gogo (Rangwe), and the county majority leader Richard Ogindo said the people of Kasipul never disappointed them.
Wanga said detractors had preempted that ODM popularity had dwindled following the death of former party leader Raila Odinga.
She said the election results indicated that residents still believe in the party.
“Kasipul people refused to disappoint ODM in Homa Bay. We thank you so much because what you did surprised naysayers who were against the party candidate Boyd Were,” Wanga said.
"The election of Boyd has unified Homa Bay residents behind ODM as a party. I urge the MP elect to ensure he unites the people of Kasipul and end violence,” she said.
In the election results declared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC)’s Returning Officer for the constituency, Rebecca Abwaku, Were won the race with 16,819 votes.
He was followed by Aroko, who garnered 8,476 votes. Omondi Collins Okeyo of Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) took the third position with 4796 votes.
Robert Riaga, an independent candidate, followed with 519 votes. Abok Isaac Kiche of Kenya Moja Movement (KMM) got 201 votes.
The sixth position was taken by Oyoo Ishmael Omondi of the National Liberal Party (NLP) with 98 votes. Okello Jesse Samson Owen of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) took the seventh position with 85 votes.
Kotiende Sam Rateng Okoth of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was eighth with 72 votes.
An independent candidate, Ouma Jeazmen Linda Aoko, got 26 votes.
Ouma Robert Ouko of Labour Party of Kenya (LPK) came last in the election with only 17 votes.
MP-elect Were told residents in Oyugis town that his election is a sign of new hope in Kasipul constituency.
He called for unity among the people of the constituency.
“I see a better future for the people of Kasipul. Thank you for electing me, and I promise to work with everybody to foster peace and development,” Were said.
Kaluma said residents were disappointed with people who assaulted him during the by-election at Agoro Sare primary school, where he went to wait for Were.
“Thank you for voting Were as your new MP. Kasipul people should compete on ideologies,” Kaluma said.
Gogo said she and Kaluma will guide Were in parliament after his election.
“Kaluma and I will hold your hand and present you to the speaker of the national assembly. Kasipul is still an ODM constituency,” she said.
