A 47-year-old cobbler from Masiro in East Ugenya has been nominated by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party to represent the interests of PWDs in the Siaya County Assembly.
Locals were shocked by Fredrick Odhiambo Oloo’s candidacy since they had assumed that ODM nomination slots only went to well-connected or related families of top leaders.
Odhiambo is one of the leaders who showed up for the orientation exercise on Monday before the swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday.
He learned of his nomination while repairing worn-out slippers at his Bondo Kolalo workshop, where he would make a measly Sh150 to 200 a day.
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Speaking to the Star, the former cobbler expressed his gratitude to the Raila Odinga-led party for the nomination.
“I am still shocked that a cobbler who is disabled like me is now being referred to as ‘Mheshimiwa’. I cannot thank the ODM party enough,” he told the daily.
He added: “I know the problems bedevilling people like me in society. Once sworn in, I will go back to the villages and lead them in discussing solutions to their problems.”
Odhiambo said he was nominated by the party because he is loyal to the party and area Governor James Orengo.
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He added that, as a cobbler, he enjoyed campaigning for Orengo and Raila at his place of work.
He claimed that Orengo gave him the crutches he is currently using and made a commitment to nominate him.
The father of three claimed that due of his condition, the majority of people looked down on him.
Odhiambo dropped out of school in Standard 7 and hence cannot speak fluent English.
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“I will debate and make laws in Kiswahili,” he said, adding that he left school following the death of his parents.
“Nobody was ready to take care of me as I was orphaned, with no brother or sister. It is then that a friend taught me how to mend old shoes.”
Others who have been nominated to the assembly to represent special interests include Dorothy Owino (Youth), Ane Wanzila Osoo (Ethnicity), and Shalom Oduor Otieno (Youth).
Eight more women were nominated in the ‘Gender Top Up’ category.
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They are Emily Agnes Awita, Wilfrida Ogundha Arunda and Anyango Rose Awino Rabinya.
Others included; Deborah Abonyo Ochieng, Julie Akinyi Okelo, Cynthia Akinyi Onyango, Alice Achieng Odhiambo and former North Sakwa MCA Lorna Achieng Ochieng Adida.
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