Long-serving ODM stalwart, ZB Frederick Owino has issued a strongly worded statement rejecting the outcome of the September 26 party primaries. While laced with disappointment and bitterness over what he termed “grave irregularities,” Owino’s message was also one of resilience, loyalty, and a firm gaze on the road ahead.
In his address, Owino thanked his supporters for braving intimidation and interference to participate in the nomination exercise. He described their faith in his candidacy as “deeply humbling” and vowed that it would not be forgotten. Yet, his gratitude was coupled with sharp criticism of the process, which he said fell far short of the democratic standards ODM has long professed.
Flawed Nomination Exercise
According to Owino, the primaries were compromised by illegal voter registration, multiple voting, ballot stuffing, and targeted violence against his supporters — irregularities that, he argued, distorted turnouts in several wards while suppressing participation in his stronghold of Sidindi.
“These illegalities produced abnormal results in certain wards while the people’s will in Sidindi Ward was violently suppressed. What transpired was not a democratic process but a manipulation,” he said.
He did not shy away from holding his own party accountable, faulting ODM officials in Ugunja for allowing interference by local leaders, MCAs, and even security agencies. “By permitting interference, the party betrayed its members,” Owino noted, warning that such flaws undermine ODM’s credibility as a champion of justice and fairness.
Bitterness, Yet Loyalty
The statement revealed Owino’s evident bitterness over the nomination outcome. Yet, unlike defectors who often bolt after bruising primaries, he reaffirmed his loyalty to ODM, a party he has served for nearly two decades in various capacities. He pledged to stand with ODM as it celebrates its 20th anniversary but urged urgent reforms to address what he called “deep-rooted systemic problems” threatening the party’s unity.
Eyes on 2027
Though acknowledging the setback, Owino framed it as temporary. He declared that his movement would regroup for both the impending by-election and the 2027 General Elections. “Victory has only been delayed, not denied,” he told his supporters, signaling that his ambition for Ugunja remains alive.
“To the people of Ugunja: we are one family. We know our problems, we know the solutions, and our conviction is intact, not just for the recent party nominations but for 2027 and beyond,” he said.
A Struggle That Continues
Analysts say Owino’s statement reflects a delicate balancing act — a mix of disappointment over a flawed nomination, loyalty to ODM, and determination to fight on. His rallying call, Aluta Continua, echoed the liberation struggles of old, underscoring his belief that the quest for a “fair and just Ugunja” is far from over.
For now, Ugunja waits to see whether ODM addresses the cracks exposed by the nominations — and how Owino channels his bitterness into the long political road that stretches toward 2027.
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