•Odhiambo was over the moon following his appointment.
•“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.
Image: JOSIAH ODANGA
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has nominated a 47-year-old cobbler from Masiro in East Ugenya to represent the interest of PWDs at the Siaya County Assembly.
The nomination of Fredrick Odhiambo Oloo surprised locals who believed that ODM nomination slots are always a preserve of relatives of senior politicians or well-connected individuals.
On Monday, Odhiambo is one of the many leaders who turned up for the orientation exercise ahead of their swearing-in Tuesday.
Donning a blue shirt with a worn-out collar, barefoot and neatly shaved hair, Odhiambo, for the first time in his life, made his way into the assembly grounds.
He wore jungle green shorts with orange side pockets.
He received the news of his nomination while mending worn-out slippers at his Bondo Kolalo workshop. He would earn between Sh150-200 a day.
During an interview with the Star, Odhiambo was over the moon following his appointment.
“I am still shocked that a cobbler who is disabled like me is now being referred to as ‘Mheshimiwa’. I cannot thank the ODM party enough,” he said.
The zeal to represent the interest of PLWDs was evident in his voice.
“I know the problems bedevilling people like me in society. Once sworn in, I will go back to the villages and lead them in discussing solutions to their problems,” Odhiambo said.
Odhiambo attributed his nomination to his loyalty and love for governor James Orengo and the ODM party.
He explained that as a cobbler, he liked politicking at his place of work 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.
The father of three said that most people despised him because of his disability.
He dropped out of school while in Standard 7 and cannot communicate in proper English.
“I will debate and make laws in Kiswahili.”
English and Kiswahili are the two official languages for use in the county assembly chambers.
Odhiambo went to Sirisia primary School before dropping out following the death of his parents.
“Nobody was ready to take care of me as I was orphaned, with no brother or sister. It is then that a friend taught me how to mend old shoes.”
The former representative of PWDs in the assembly and now Sigomre MCA-Elect Andrew Omwende lauded the decision to honour Odhiambo with the slot.
“Nominating Odhiambo means that even those who are lowly placed in the society have a place in our party,” Omwende said.
He promised to work hand in hand with Odhiambo and push for the construction of more sheltered workshops across the county.
Others who have been nominated to the assembly to represent special interests include Dorothy Owino (Youth), Ane Wanzila Osoo (Ethnicity), and Shalom Oduor Otieno (Youth).
Eight more women were nominated in the ‘Gender Top Up’ category.
They included Emily Agnes Awita, Wilfrida Ogundha Arunda and Anyango Rose Awino Rabinya.
Others are Deborah Abonyo Ochieng, Julie Akinyi Okelo, Cynthia Akinyi Onyango, Alice Achieng Odhiambo and former North Sakwa MCA Lorna Achieng Ochieng Adida.