Kenya's Police spokesman, Charles Owino, made startling claims that senior ODM party officials tried to coerce him into supporting their candidate in the recently concluded Ugenya by-election.
The vocal officer was speaking on Saturday at Yogo village, Ugenya constituency, during the burial of his sister, Rosabella Owino.
He claimed that his decision to back the newly elected Ugenya MP, Dave Ochieng', may have cost him a chance at being promoted to the position of Inspector General (IG).
“Yes I did not get that top position because I supported Ochieng,” he asserted.
Owino allegedly got word from ODM's top brass, stating that they would frustrate his lofty ambitions of rising to the IG post after he refused to back their candidate, Chris Karan.
However, the police spokesperson stood his ground, going on to back Ochieng', describing him as his brother.
Ochieng is like my younger brother, I love him in a bad way even if you put a gun in front of me and Ochieng, I will just shove it aside and soldier on towards Ochieng,” he confessed.
Siaya governor, Cornel Rasanga, was present during the funeral, with Owino going on to urge the governor to push for unity among the various leaders, irrespective of their political inclination.
Owino was promoted and named director of communication services in the National Police Service, taking over from current Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss, George Kinoti.
