By Anderson Ojwang
Return home. We miss you. Your development records speak. Son of Odiyo, we don’t want your money. That was the message from Uyoma to Asembo to the former area MP Raphael Tuju.
Tuju, who toured Uyoma and Asembo on Monday to listen to the ground and on a fact-finding mission, was humbled by the warm reception from the residents.
Tuju said he was not interested in being the senator because that office doesn’t bring development to the area.
“I have come to listen to the ground. I do not want to be a senator. Dr Oburu Oginga has been your senator for now, and there is no development attached to his name,” he said.
One of the elders, Mzee Otiieno, said that for two years before Tuju fell out with the ODM leadership, his development record cannot be matched.
“For two years before ODM started to fight you, Rarieda witnessed massive development. ODM spent time fighting you, and we lost development,” he said.
The residents credited Tuju with economic empowerment, education scholarships for students, and infrastructural development programmes.
The residents said they owe Tuju for his development projects in the area and do not want him to spend money on his campaigns.
They said Tuju should either go for the parliamentary or gubernatorial seat in 2027 to cash in on his development agenda.
Already, excitement has rocked Rarieda constituency after Tuju toured the area and is still in the village holding consultative meetings with opinion leaders.
If he decides to go for the Rarieda parliamentary seat, he will face off with the incumbent Dr Otiende Amollo and other lightweight aspirants.
Tuju recently paid a courtesy call on Siaya Governor James Orengo, where they held a consultative meeting.
On Sunday, he was in Kisumu where he joined Linda Mwananchi during their successful rally in the lake city.
Tuju received a heroic welcome, and his support for the faction was a shot in the arm and a major political optic for the team.
