By Olumwa Kidikibudi

Has the ground spoken in Migori’s Suna East constituency or it’s the heaven’s responding to cry of wananchi? The latest political forays by city based tycoon Elias Okumu, who is also Kileleshwa MCA has left tongues wagging.

Okumu has set the ground into a spin as he seeks to woo Suna East voters against the incumbent Junet Mohammed, who is Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga blue eyed boy.

Junet, the ODM’s director of elections has been elected twice to parliament but has had fair share of challenges with development and availability in his constituency, which has been the rallying call as campaigns have been picking up.

Okumu, nicknamed Tetemeko has been riding on his development track record and a short stint at the seat in last polls to create a wave which will send Junet home in the next polls.

Tetemeko aka The Majority began his political life in Nairobi’s populous Kileleshwa ward in Dagoreti North and has now decided to step up his career and ran for Migori’s Suna East constituency in his home turf.

Okumu has followed the political steps of former president Mwai Kibaki who shifted from City’s Donhom (Bahati) constituency to Othaya constituency.

Okumu has served Kileleshwa ward for 15 years since 2008-2022 where he was elected as MCA and served in the Nairobi Assembly as the Chairman of Planning Committee, and Legal Affairs committees before rising to the prestigious position both Majority and Minority leadership.

With this, Okumu will bring the rubble rouse type of politics which is done in Nairobi to Suna East with voters getting a test of this when he tried to vie for the same seat in last polls, before he was persuaded to retain his ward seat.

Okumu has been received with support from jubilant youths and women who claimed they have suffered enough in the the past decade and need fresh blood to spur stalled development agenda in Suna East.

While other legislators in nearby Uriri, Suna West, Nyatike and Awendo constituencies have had close interactions with their voters in Suna East voters are grappling with an absentee legislator only seen on television.

And each fleeting time he comes to the ground he only make calls and send greetings from Raila before flying off after putting voters in a long-line to receive handouts as a way of dodging numerous development queries.

In his interactions with voters, Okumu has promised politics of inclusivity with foundations of equity and equality to spur development through ensuring all students benefit from bursary and enroll in TIVETS, middle level colleges and universities to pursue their studies.

While many youths have chosen boda boda as a means of business, Okumu said he will spur the sector further by ensuring registration of youth groups into the Suna East Sacco that will provide easy loans for economic empowerment to youths and women for self empowerment.

With fears of shambolic ODM nominations, Okumu has assured his base of working with both the party and people to ensure the development potential of Suna East is unlocked.

Under Okumu’s economic blueprint, within two years after being elected youths, women, education, energy, water and road development, business sector and agriculture will be engaged through stakeholders under public participation which has never happened in Suna East constituency.

Over the last decades Okumu has been selfless in ensuring he gets in touch with voters from Kwa, God Jope, Kakrao and Suna Central wards by helping build 98 houses for the widow and the poor, and enrolling 300 students in schools and colleges.

He has also helped organise several harambees which has bring a cross network of leaders including former Nairobi Governors Evans Kidero and Mike Sonko, former Nairobi speaker Alex Ole Magelo, Homa Bay governor Cyrprian Awiti among others to help build Radienya Girls Secondary School from scratch, Migori Boys, Osingo Secondary, Kadika Girls, Nyikendo secondary, Kakrao secondary, Nyarongi secondary, Godjope primary, Andingo kodit Primary, Nyaduong secondary, Nyamongo Secondary and Radienya Primary school.

(The writer comments on socio-political matters, the views does not reflect the editorial decisions of Migori News)