MP's widow to battle for UDA party ticket in Bonchari by-election

The late former Bonchari constituency Member of Parliament John Oroo Oyioka's widow Teresa Bitutu during John Oroo Oyioka's requiem service at Holy Family Basilica church,Nairobi. February 24th, 2021 [Elvis Ogina,Standard]

The late Bonchari MP John Oyioka’s widow Teresa Bitutu has received support to contests the seat on United Democratic Alliance party ticket in the May 18 by-election. 

Oyioka died at the Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu on February 15, 2021 after a long illness.

He was buried at his Suneka rural home on February 26, 2021.

PDP Party Leader Omingo Magara said UDA and People Democratic Party (PDP) had agreed to support the widow since the MP belonged to the party.

Those eyeing ODM ticket are John Billy Momanyi and former Energy Regulatory Commission general manager Pavel Oimeke.

Oimeke resigned from the commission on Tuesday while Momanyi plans to leave his post as Kisii County Water and Natural Resources executive, to vie for the seat.

The former Energy Regulatory Commission boss participated in the recent Kiamokoma ward by-elections campaigns. This is his first stab at elective politics.

In 2017, Momanyi contested for the Bonchari seat on ODM ticket and came third. 

During Oyioka’s burial, the family requested ODM leader Raila Odinga to award the ticket to the widow.

Former CDF manager Eric Oigo and his former boss Zepedeo Opore are eyeing the Jubilee Party ticket.

Oigo, a Jubilee point man in Kisii , says he is confident he will defeat Opore at the nominations. “We need to change the leadership in our constituency and allow more youthful politicians to take over,” he said.

Former Woman Representative Mary Otara who is allied to Ruto as well as Douglas Ogari and Charles Mogoka have also expressed interest in the seat. 

The voting pattern in the constituency is largely influenced by clans in South and North Wanjare.

In South, there are Bomariba and Riana wards with an estimated 23,700 voters. The North has Bomorenda ward with 14,532 voters and Bogiakumu ward with 14,338.