Ex-Governor Sospeter Ojaamong ditches Raila’s ODM for UDA
Former Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong has defected to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
The former county boss made the declaration during an interdenominational church service in Teso, Busia County, on Sunday, January 21.
Speaking during the service attended by President William Ruto and other senior members of the Kenya Kwanza administration, Ojaamong committed to working with the ruling party to advance the government’s development agenda.
“From today I’ve joined UDA and I expect to be in government fully,” Ojaamong said.
“The best way to get better development projects is by supporting the government.”
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba lauded Ojaamong for the decision to join UDA and urged other members of the political outfit to make him feel at home.
“Your Excellency Ojaamong has made a good decision. Let’s support him as he joins the UDA house,” Ababu said.
Ojaamong has been an ardent supporter and member of the ODM party for many years.
He announced his resignation from the Raila Odinga-led party early this week, citing ideological differences.
“My decision is premised on the fact that my continued membership of this outfit of which I have been a life member for many years is no longer tenable due to a clash of ideological beliefs, community interests, associations and aspirations and by the fact that my political convictions no longer has convergence or depict common denominator with that of the ODM party, its values & political practices,” a resignation letter seen by People Daily Digital read in part.
Ojaamong was elected member of parliament for Amagoro Constituency on an ODM ticket in the 2007 General Election.
The former lawmaker successfully contested for the Busia governor’s seat in 2013, a position he held until the lapse of his term in 2022.
During the August 2022 polls, he contested for the Teso South parliamentary seat but lost to Mary Emaase of UDA.