Kepher Otieno and Barry Sila

Two scholars are set to battle it out for the Kisumu Senate seat with incumbent Fred Outa eyeing governorship in next year’s election.

Law Prof Tom Ojienda and Prof Ayiecho Olweny, a former Assistant Minister for Education, have thrown their hats in the ring alongside local businessmen Philip Pande and Milton Ogada.

Kisumu county, with a population of slightly over a million going by the last census, is expected to attract intense battle ahead of the August 2022 polls.

Speaking to People Daily, Prof Ojienda, a Senior Counsel, said he desires to apply his legal skills in oversighting devolution. 

“I am submitting my interest in the seat with the hope of being elected as the custodian of people’s funds in Kisumu,” he said as he prepares to go for his first real fight in politics.

 The Moi University professor has practiced law for the past 25 years. “We will work closely with the governor to improve the welfare of the youth, women in enterprise and agriculture and build infrastructure and the domestic economy,” he said.

Prof Ayiecho, a plant  scientist, is the Orange Democratic Movement chairman in Kisumu and former MP for Muhoroni.

More functions

 “I think it is high time we work with realities. More functions have been devolved.

I will push for more money to be disbursed to counties and make implementation of projects down here more feasible, realistic and time-bound,”Ayiecho said.

Little-known and youthful Pande and Ogada hope to thrive on the youth numbers to triumph. 

In their social media platforms, they have advised the professors to concentrate on their trades and leave the seat to young people.

Pande and lawyer Ojienda are way ahead in terms of social media utilization at a time political gatherings are banned due to Covid-19. 

 Prof Ojienda has set up several social media accounts to engage voters.

Pande says his main focus will be  expansion of infrastructure such as roads. 

“We want the county to go on to improve road infrastructure and urban renewal programmes,” said Pande. 

Ogada wants the county government to come up with programmes that empower the youth.