The race for the Ugunja Parliamentary seat, slated for November 27, 2025, has taken a contentious twist after aspirant MJ Okumu raised alarm over what he terms as “blatant misuse of state resources and undue advantage” allegedly extended to one of his rivals, Moses Omondi, through the influence of Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Opiyo Wandayi.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and copied to relevant oversight bodies, Team MJ Okumu accuses the state machinery of quietly being deployed to tilt the playing field in favour of Omondi—a move that, if substantiated, would mark a serious breach of Kenya’s electoral code.
The controversy emerged during an IEBC orientation session for all aspirants held last week in Ugunja, an event meant to brief candidates on campaign conduct, election preparedness, and compliance with the Elections Act, 2011.
According to Okumu’s team, while most aspirants, including MJ Okumu himself, attended the session in person, Moses Omondi was conspicuously absent. However, a representative of Omondi allegedly arrived in an official government vehicle, a fact that immediately drew murmurs among participants and IEBC officials.
“The presence of a government vehicle—clearly identifiable and deployed for partisan purposes—is not just unethical; it’s unlawful,” reads the letter signed by Team MJ Okumu. “Such misuse of public resources violates the Electoral Code of Conduct and undermines the neutrality expected in state service.”
The complaint goes further to question Omondi’s dual role as an individual reportedly involved in supplying electricity to minors, a government contract that raises questions about conflict of interest and ethical propriety.
“How can someone actively benefiting from public service contracts be allowed to use those same state instruments to campaign for political office?” the statement asks. “It blurs the line between public duty and political ambition.”
Under Section 1(1)(a) of the Electoral Code of Conduct, aspirants are expressly prohibited from using public resources—including vehicles and personnel—for electioneering. The same Code also demands neutrality from all state institutions and agents.
At the heart of the complaint lies the alleged patronage of CS Opiyo Wandayi, a long-time political heavyweight in Siaya County and one of the region’s most influential figures within government.
Okumu’s camp believes Wandayi’s involvement, though not directly proven, has created an “invisible hand of influence” that threatens to skew the race before it even begins.
“There’s growing concern among Ugunja voters that this by-election may already be compromised,” said a campaign insider who spoke to The Star Investigations Desk on condition of anonymity. “People see the coordination between certain local administrators, the use of state vehicles, and the sudden elevation of one candidate—and they connect the dots.”
While Wandayi’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment, insiders within the Ministry have dismissed the allegations as “politically motivated noise,” insisting that the Cabinet Secretary has maintained “a hands-off approach” to the Ugunja race.
The IEBC now faces growing pressure to act. Okumu’s team has requested that the Commission:
1. Investigate the alleged misuse of the government vehicle by Omondi’s representative, including tracking its registration and usage logs.
2. Sanction any aspirant found culpable, including possible fines or disqualification.
3. Publicly reaffirm the ban on state resource use in campaigns.
Article 88(4) of the Constitution gives IEBC the mandate to enforce compliance with the Electoral Code, a responsibility that has often come under scrutiny during high-stakes by-elections.
“The credibility of this by-election hinges on whether IEBC will act impartially,” noted governance expert Dr. Alice Anyango. “If the Commission overlooks such red flags, it risks eroding public trust and entrenching the perception that electoral justice only applies selectively.”
The Ugunja seat is among 24 by-elections scheduled nationwide this year, a crucial mid-term political barometer for both the ruling coalition and the opposition. Analysts say that how IEBC handles complaints like Okumu’s will define public confidence ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Okumu, who styles himself as a “candidate of integrity and people-driven politics,” insists he is not afraid of competition—only unfairness.
“We are not crying foul because we fear losing,” he said during a brief press appearance in Ugunja. “We are calling out injustice before it corrodes the very foundations of our democracy. Ugunja deserves a clean contest, not a state-sponsored coronation.”
As political temperatures rise in Siaya, the alleged intersection of state power and local politics could become a flashpoint in the broader debate over the neutrality of Cabinet Secretaries and the politicization of public resources.
For now, all eyes turn to the IEBC and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), both of which may soon be called upon to investigate.
If the allegations are proven, it could not only jeopardize the candidacy of Moses Omondi but also expose deeper systemic flaws in Kenya’s electoral accountability framework.
Until then, Ugunja waits—watching, listening, and wondering whether fairness will triumph over influence in a contest that has quickly become more than just a parliamentary seat.
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