By Anderson Ojwang
A war of words between Kasipul MP Charles Ongondo Were and Homa Bay Deputy Governor Joseph Oyugi Magwanga has escalated with the former accusing the latter of politically undermining him.
Ongondo claimed Magwanga was politically undermining him by grooming and sponsoring potential aspirants to challenge him for the Kasipul parliamentary.
”I am aware that Magwanga is plotting and grooming some aspirants to challenge me in the 2027 general elections. I am ready to face off with him and his candidates. This is a war he will not win. Let him come out and face me directly,” he said in a telephone interview.
Ongondo claimed that Magwanga refused to hand over to him various documents for the constituency when he was first elected MP in 2017 and accused him of playing negative politics.
The war of words broke out at a funeral in Kasipul where Ongondo spoke last after Magwanga to the amusement of the Deputy Governor, who claimed to be senior most in the line of duty and protocol.
“I am a second-term MP and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Homa Bay county secretary. I am more senior to Magwanga by virtue of my position and he cannot speak after me,” he said.
Ongondo claimed Magwanga was accompanied to the funeral by one of the aspirants Mr. Newton Ogada whom he believes the Deputy Governor was grooming to take over from him.
But Magwanga dismissed Ongondo as a political nuisance who should be voted out of parliament in the 2027 elections.
“I am not grooming anyone but the fact is Ongondo must be voted out. He is a political nuisance who is fighting everyone in the constituency and the county,” he said.
He said Kasipul constituency needs a political direction and that is the conversation the people of Kasipul are currently having.
The Deputy Governor dismissed the claim by the MP that he did not hand over to him saying the government has a clear transition structure laid out saying Ongondo could be suffering from lack of
knowledge.
Ogada said the incumbent was running away from his own shadows and should not blame anyone for his dwindling political fortunes.
“The People of Kasipul will speak and I am convinced Ongondowill be voted out. We cannot have an MP who is fighting with everyone. His time is up,” he said.
He said leadership was not about political violence and abuse and claimed the incumbent has specialized on the two and must be checked and brought to order.
Ongondo said he was ready to face off with his opponent and expressed optimism about re-election following various development projects he had initiated and implemented in the constituency.
“My development record speaks for itself . I have initiated various projects in health, education and road infrastructure. My development track records speak volumes,” he said.
