TYCOON NOW DECLARES CANDIDATURE IN ALEGO USONGA

BY JEFF OTIENO

Mombasa city based business magnet Edwin Ochieng Yinda has officially declared his candidature for Alego Usonga Parliamentary seat on an O.D.M ticket.

In an interview with this journalist the tycoon said that he decided to plunge into the race following what he termed as increasingly hostile living conditions of Alego Usonga people.

"Rampant cases of school dropout, rising numbers of orphaned children, pathetic state of health facilities and the general fall of education standards are other key issues which have catapulted my interests", he thundered during an exclusive telephone interview.

Yinda will rely on his unrivalled sterling development track record to bag the seat which is currently under the tutelage of out of favour MP Arthur Sammy Weya who has joined a bandwagon of a clique of unpopular incumbent Luo MPs in criss-crossing various constituencies they perceive harbour formidable parliamentary opponents with a view of slandering and mudslinging them before the December 2007 polls.

The brigade led by Weya started their crusade a fortnight ago in Mbita constituency where the incumbent MP Gerald Otieno Kajwangs Political noose has been tightened by wealthy and polished Sam Wakiaga. Their next stop over was Rongo where the incumbent MP Ochillo Ayacko is under Siege courtesy of former powerful cabinet Minister Dalmas Otieno Anyango.

Other targets are Nyakach where Kisumu based businessman Ochieng Daima has completely subdued former assistant Minister Peter Ochieng Odoyo.

Same scenario applies in Karachuonyo where former wealthy and influential permanent secretary James Rege appears to be sending Paul Adhu Awiti packing.

Their last stopover is Kisumu Town West where the incumbent MP Rev. Ken Nyagudi is fighting for his political life following the resilience of Kisumu based lawyer John Olago Aluoch.

Olago was early this week branded by his opponents as sympathetic to other rival parties of O.D.M. through well knitted placards which were distributed in the streets of Kisumu early in the week.

He denied the claims and immediately dismissed them as hollow and cheap gimmicks of his rivals who have sensed defeat even before the polls are called. Olagos' supporters have however threatened demonstration soon to counter the propaganda plots.

END