Former Radio Ramogi journalist and comedian George Otieno, popularly known as Ajo Mbuta, has declared his bid to contest the Kasipul parliamentary seat left vacant following the murder of MP Charles Ong'ondo Were.
Otieno, who worked at Royal Media Services prior to joining politics, is one of several candidates hoping to secure the seat in the upcoming November 27 by-election, as announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
He previously vied for the same seat in the last general election but lost to Ong’ondo, finishing second. Despite the setback, Otieno has maintained close ties with his supporters, who he says have encouraged him to try again.
“In the last elections when I ran with the late Ong'ondo Were, I came in second. They have so much hope in me. I want to thank the people of Kasipul for portraying their hope in me,” Otieno said on Tuesday.
Otieno studied at Oyugis Primary School and Agore Sare Primary, where he sat his KCPE exams, before proceeding to Nyang'iela Mixed Secondary. However, he dropped out in Form Two due to a lack of school fees. He later enrolled at Kotieno Mixed but again failed to complete his studies.
He later pursued computer studies before returning to school and eventually enrolling in tertiary institutions to study media-related programs.
In 2012, after three years of unsuccessful attempts to join the media industry, Otieno finally secured a spot at Ramogi FM, starting out in the creatives department before moving into mainstream journalism.
At Ramogi FM, he co-hosted a popular breakfast show alongside the late veteran journalist Ben Oluoch Okello, who later ventured into politics and was elected Migori Senator in 2017. Oluoch, who had also worked at KBC, passed away in 2018 after a long battle with cancer.
After spending a decade in the media, Ajo stepped away from the profession to focus on his political ambitions.
Despite losing to Ong'ondo, Ajo has remained determined to clinch the seat and serve the people of Kasipul.
The by-election has already attracted a crowded field of aspirants, with political parties mobilising in the constituency as campaigns gain momentum.
The journalist will be contesting with Newton Ogada, Robert Riaga, and Philip Aroko, among other candidates, who all appear to be focused on getting the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket to clinch the seat.
Other candidates include the late MP's son, Boyd Were. The son, through a statement on Friday, May 16, said he planned to contest for the seat so he can continue the work his father was doing in the area before he was brutally shot.
Boyd’s announcement came after various politicians allied to ODM asked Raila Odinga's party to hand the late Were’s son a direct nomination.
Meanwhile, the case involving the former area MP, Were, who passed away after suspected criminals within Nairobi city gunned him down, is still ongoing in court.
