By Anderson Ojwang
The parliamentary by-elections in Kasipul and Ugunja constituencies have opened a new chapter in Nyanza’s political dispensation, with political parties scrambling for candidates.
Various political parties have in the recent past embarked on a hunt drive to woo top candidates to fly their parties’ colors in the November by-elections.
The move has opened the region as a new battleground in the 2027 general elections for the presidential votes and other elective posts.
Previously, ODM has been the predominant party in the region, which forced other parties to give Nyanza a wide berth in past general elections.
An ODM nomination certificate guaranteed candidates election to various seats, and aspirants jostled and fought over the ticket. Losing aspirants were left punctured, and the majority have never recovered from the shock.
The party ticket has been the hottest market commodity in the party’s history and is often auctioned to the highest bidder, while losers have been left to lick their wounds.
Currently, the party of independence KANU of Gideon Moi, the Wiper party of former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, the United Progressive Alliance associated with former Internal Security Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, and other fringe parties have been on a candidate hunt.
KANU was the first to embark on a candidate hunt two months ago and was able to secure the signatures of some of the top candidates in Ugunja and Kasipul.
Wiper has already secured a candidate for Kasipul but is still hunting for a candidate for Ugunja, while UPA has also secured a candidate for Kasipul and, as of last evening, was in consultation with a candidate to fly the party ticket in Ugunja.
Some of the top aspirants for Kasipul have opted to contest as independent candidates, including Robert Riaga and Philip Aroko.
In both Kasipul and Ugunja respectively, the ODM party leadership has been split in the middle, with each faction supporting their candidate.
In Kasipul, the battle is seen to be between Governor Gladys Wanga, who supports the son of the slain immediate former MP Charles Ongondo Were, Boyd Were, against Siaya Senator Dr. Oburu Oginga and his sister Dr. Wenwa Odinga, who support Newton Kepha Ogada.
In Siaya, the battle is between Cabinet Secretary for Energy Opiyo Wandayi, who wants his immediate former CDF manager Moses Omondi to inherit his seat, and a candidate supported by Siaya Governor James Orengo.
Orengo and Wandayi have fallen out, with the latter being viewed as nursing an ambition to challenge Orengo for the gubernatorial seat.
In a post on his X account on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, Kalonzo said his party will present a candidate in Kasipul and emphasized that leadership was about service, integrity, and standing with the people in every corner of the country.
“@TheWiperParty is ready for the upcoming by-elections. We believe leadership is about service, integrity, and standing with the people in every corner of our country,” the leader posted.
“The party now has a new face – Wiper is going national. The new name will be Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF) so that our Gen Z are fully included,” Musyoka said during a tour of Ukambani.
Political analysts argued that the successful UDA recruitment and party elections in Nyanza ushered in a new political dispensation in the region.
The successful UDA party elections and opening of party offices up to ward level opened the region to other parties, and this explains the current scramble.
Similarly, the emerging possibility of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga not contesting the presidency in 2027 has opened up the region for grabs.
Equally, the declaration by top ODM leaders that they will support President William Ruto’s second-term bid and Raila’s recent statement that the broad-based government will go beyond the 2027 elections has bolstered opposition parties to create their presence in Nyanza.
Political analyst Mr. Michael Agwanda said Nyanza is witnessing a new political era that will open it to competitive politics and allow electorates to choose the right candidates.
Agwanda said for the first time, ODM will now be forced to use political party funds to sponsor their candidates, as the burden was previously left on the candidates to shoulder.
“We are witnessing a special moment in Nyanza. The people will now have the opportunity to make a choice. This is going to open the political space in Nyanza and nurture democracy,” he said.
Agwanda said even if ODM wins all the by-elections, a statement shall have been made, and it will never be the same in Nyanza’s political landscape.
