Confusion as MCA aspirant for Kisa East returns ODM certificate

ODM party leader Raila Odinga. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

The Orange Democratic Party(ODM) has been forced to go back to the drawing board after an aspirant who had been given a nomination certificate to fly the party ticket for the Kisa East ward by-election in Khwisero Constituency, Kakamega County, returned the certificate.

On Wednesday, Kakamega Governor and ODM County Chairperson Fernandes Barasa handed a direct nomination certificate to Isaiah Abraham Ayaya. However, in a turn of events, Ayaya returned the ticket to the Orange party on Thursday, 2nd October 2025.

In a letter seen by The Standard dated October 2, 2025, the aspirant said he was returning the ticket to the party after his name had already been forwarded to the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K), where he is a life member.

"I sincerely thank the ODM party for reaching out to me with a view of having me run as its party candidate in the forthcoming by-election. It is regrettable that the nomination certificate was drawn and issued in my name before the consultations could reach their logical conclusion," read in part the letter.

Furthermore, the letter reads," By the time the ODM party reached out to me, my name had already been forwarded to the DAP-K, where I am a duly registered as a life member. Subsequently, I hereby respectfully decline the nomination certificate issued to me and dated 1st September 2025, and the same is hereby returned."

However, questions abound about how Ayaya accepted and received the ODM certificate at the party's county branch office and later returned the same certificate the following day.

Speaking to the Press on Thursday, Ayaya thanked Governor Barasa for showing trust in him, stating that he had not been briefed on matters related to do with the issuance of the certificate.

"I want to thank the governor for showing trust in me. however, I had already been given a ticket by DAP-K, and I informed him that it is the party I am going to run under. I respect my governor alot and therefore I will be returning the certificate in a very respectful manner," said Ayaya.

The Kisa East seat has attracted several aspirants following the death of Stephen Maloba two years ago.

Joel Ongoro, a former MCA and majority leader at Kakamega County Assembly, is running under the Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG), James Shiraku is contesting under the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), and Maclin Khatete is an Independent candidate.