HOMA BAY, Kenya – A section of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders from Homa Bay County has said the outcome of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election sends a clear message that Kenyan voters cannot be influenced by bribery, intimidation or political force.
The leaders, led by National Assembly Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo and Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, said the poll should serve as a wake-up call for leaders to reconnect with wananchi and focus on addressing their challenges instead of relying on money or intimidation during elections.
Speaking at a funeral service in Suba North Constituency, Odhiambo argued that the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) lost the Ol Kalou contest because some leaders had become detached from the concerns of ordinary Kenyans.
“As a founding member of ODM, I cannot allow us to do the wrong things. Yes, I am in the broad-based government, but even within that arrangement, I will always speak the truth,” she said.
Odhiambo warned that leaders had become arrogant and were no longer listening to the people they represent.
“If we had listened to the people, we would not even have lost Ol Kalou. One of the things I have consistently said is that we are taking the public for granted. We have become very arrogant as leaders. We do not listen to the people, and we do not understand what they are going through. People are suffering,” she said.
Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang echoed the sentiments, saying political leaders should stop underestimating voters and instead concentrate on delivering the promises they made during campaigns.
According to Kajwang, governments should earn public support through development rather than coercion or financial inducements.
“Government will not be formed through bribery. It will not be formed through goonism. It will not be formed through violence. It will not be formed through force. It will be formed through a clear development agenda,” he said.
He added that the country’s development agenda should be inclusive and unite Kenyans, saying that was the basis upon which ODM chose to support the broad-based government.
“The right development agenda is one that brings Kenyans together. That is the reason why we, in the ODM party, have taken the position that we shall advance the agenda of the broad-based government,” Kajwang said.