Former Police Spokesperson, Charles Owino has officially joined the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), where he set to run for the Governor for Siaya County.
Owino was received by the Chairperson of the ODM Alego-Usonga branch in Siaya town. He was also installed by a section of elders as an aspirant.
The former cop who resigned from the public service in June 2021 noted that the move was a change from his career as a police officer which spanned nearly 30 years.
"This marks a great day for me because it is a transition from where I was as a police officer for 29 years and now joining politics to run for the position of Siaya Governor in the upcoming election, "Owino noted.
Owino noted that his campaigns would be led on the 'pesa mfukoni, ugali kwa meza' policy, which is an improvement of 'pesa mfukoni', one of the five-point manifesto by the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
"My policy is simple, pesa mfukoni, ugali kwa meza. What does it mean? It means that we want a system where each and every person will be able to make his own money and put it in his own pocket and that everybody will be able to have food on his table," the former police spokesperson explained.
Owino opined that the real election in the Siaya Gubernatorial race will be on April 15 during the party preliminaries, noting that the aspirant who will win the ODM candidate would automatically succeed the outgoing governor, Cornel Rasanga, who will be vying for the Alego Usonga pariamentary seat.Rasanga has served as governor for two terms.
"Our election in Siaya is not on August 9 but on April 15 during the nominations. Once we decide on the candidate, that will be the end of it, what will remain will just be polishing in a small way, "Owino remarked.
ODM, just like deputy president William Ruto's UDA party faces an uphill to conduct free and fair primaries especially in regions where the formations enjoy super majority following. It's a delicate balance for Raila Odinga and Ruto who will be keen to avert fallout.
Owino will be squaring it out with Siaya Senator James Orengo, Deputy Governor James Okumbe, Otieno Okanja, Ex-United Nations (UN) official Bella Akinyi, advocate George Mugoye Mbeya, and former banker Otieno Okanja for the ODM ticket.
The ex-Police Spokesperson expressed confidence that the Odinga -led party will hold a free and fair nomination process and that he would trounce his opponents. He further urged his competitors to practice peaceful politics and focus on selling their ideologies to the people of Siaya County.
Former Rarieda Member of Parliament Nicholas Gumbo has also expressed interest in the gubernatorial race, further complicating Raila's arithmetic since all front runners are his allies.
