Ugenya MP elect David Ochieng has since released a revelatory speech following his uncontested win.
During his thanksgiving remarks, Ochieng’ revealed that Ruto supported his campaign which saw him trounce Karan by 4000 votes. Ochieng garnered 18,730 votes against Karan’s 14,507.
“Victory at last! The people of Ugenya have spoken and they have spoken it loudly. I want to take this time to thank the people of Ugenya, Deputy President William Ruto who supported my campaign, my party MDG, and Kenyans who prayed for me during my campaign,’ he stated.
“I promise not to let the people of Ugenya down. Now is the time to get down to work. Many thanks,” he added.
Even though he did not come out openly to support Ochieng’, Ruto’s name became a constant subject despite his Jubilee Party not fielding candidates in both Ugenya and Embakasi South.
For instance, some ODM leaders told Ugenya residents that voting for Ochieng was tantamount to voting for Ruto.
Deputy President William Ruto on Saturday penned an emotional message to congratulate Julius Mawathe and David Ochieng who won the Embakasi South and Ugenya by-elections respectively.
“CONGRATULATIONS Ochieng (Ugenya) & Mawathe (Embakasi) for your God given victory. Jameni wacheni MUNGU aitwe MUNGU. The hustler nation has spoken, the people have decided. GLORY TO THE ALMIGHTY GOD,” Dr. Ruto said on Twitter.
Ochieng defeated his ODM counterpart Christopher Karan with over 7,000 votes.
He vied for the Ugenya seat under the little-known Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) party that he formed in 2017, after a fall out with ODM’s top party leadership.