The Raila Odinga-led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has declared Boyd Were as the winner of the party ticket for the upcoming by-election.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, the Orange Party said the son of the late Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were will now fly its flag in the mini polls scheduled for November 27, 2025.

ODM says it has now set its sights on the Ugunja constituency primaries that will be conducted on Thursday, September 25, 2025.

“Mr. Boyd Were is the winner of the party ticket for the Kasipul Constituency by-election scheduled for the 27th of November 2025. Tomorrow, a similar exercise shall be conducted in Ugunja constituency. We wish all the aspirants for the ticket success in the primaries,” ODM stated.

Wanga congratulates Boyd

The ODM National Chairperson and Homa Bay Governor, Gladys Wanga, had earlier congratulated Boyd for clinching the party ticket in the hotly contested Kasipul primaries.

In a statement shared via her official social media accounts, Wanga said that the people of Kasipul had spoken and that they had chosen a candidate they believe would champion their interests.

She went ahead to urge all ODM leaders and supporters to back Boyd fully as the focus now shifts to what she termed the greater task of winning the by-election and bringing transformative development to Kasipul.

“I wish to congratulate Boyd Were wholeheartedly for his victory in the ODM party primaries. The people of Kasipul have spoken, and they have chosen a candidate they believe will champion their interests. This is the time for unity. I urge all leaders and supporters to back Boyd fully as we now focus on the greater task of winning the by-election and bringing transformative development to Kasipul. Forward Together,” Wanga wrote on X.

ODM primaries rigging concerns

However, Newton Ogada, an aspirant in the Kasipul ODM nominations, had earlier expressed serious concerns about a plot to rig the election in favour of his main opponent, Boyd.

Ogada claimed to be aware of plans being pushed by a high-ranking county official and has threatened to reject the results if the process is not conducted freely and fairly.

“We urge the ODM party to conduct fair nominations for the Kasipul Parliamentary seat as we agreed. However, based on what I have observed over Tuesday and today (Wednesday), I am uncertain whether they are following the right procedures,” Ogada stated.

“The voting process should have commenced at 8:00 am, yet close to two hours later, some polling stations still lack voting materials. This situation is likely to create voter apathy among our supporters.”

The start of the voting exercise was also delayed for several hours due to the late arrival of voting materials. Originally scheduled to begin at 8:00 am, many polling stations had still not received the necessary materials by 10:00 am.