Asere Village, Ugenya – August 23, 2025 – What was billed as a birthday celebration for Siaya’s self-styled political comedian Makamu wa Makamu turned into a full-blown campaign stage on Friday, as the once-influential grassroots mobilizer openly endorsed Moses Omondi for the upcoming Ugunja Constituency by-election.
Omondi, widely perceived by locals as a political project of Energy Cabinet Secretary James Opiyo Wandayi, made a prominent appearance at the Asere Village event, sending a clear signal of alignment between Makamu and the CS’s inner circle. The move has already sparked political ripples, setting the tone for what could be one of Siaya’s most fiercely contested mini-polls in recent memory.
From Political Star to Sidelined Operative
Makamu’s endorsement comes at a time when his political clout has markedly diminished. Once a key cog in Siaya’s campaign machinery—credited for energizing Alego-Usonga MP Samuel Atandi’s base and later introduced to Governor James Orengo—Makamu’s fortunes took a nosedive after Orengo reportedly found his style “odious” and his antics politically costly.
Hired briefly as a PR roving ambassador by the governor, Makamu’s village-style theatrics and uncultured outbursts quickly made him an embarrassing liability. Insiders say Orengo quietly dropped him, leaving the former comic kingpin scrambling for relevance.
‘Birthday Bash’ or Strategic Endorsement?
Friday’s event, attended by Kisumu City Manager Michael Abala Wanga—who is said to be laying the groundwork for a 2027 Gem Constituency bid—alongside other local leaders, was anything but a personal celebration. It was a well-scripted show of force aimed at signaling Omondi’s legitimacy as Wandayi’s preferred successor in Ugunja.
Political observers argue that Makamu’s move may have inadvertently handed ammunition to Joseph Alur Otieno, widely regarded as the people’s candidate. Alur’s grassroots appeal and independence from political kingpins contrast sharply with Omondi’s “system project” tag, which could become a millstone in the heated by-election campaign.
Is There Anything Left in Makamu’s Arsenal?
For Makamu, the stakes are existential. Once the darling of campaign rallies—famous for his crude jokes and pelvic gyrations that thrilled female audiences—he now risks being remembered as a political relic whose influence faded with Orengo’s cold shoulder.
Analysts say the Ugunja contest will be the ultimate litmus test for Makamu’s relevance: Can he still deliver votes, or has his brand of buffoonish populism outlived its usefulness?
As Siaya braces for a bruising by-election, one thing is clear: Makamu’s birthday bash may have just redrawn the battle lines—and possibly his own political obituary.
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