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Member of Parliament, Ugunja
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Moses Okoth Omondi is a Kenyan politician and grassroots administrator who was elected Member of Parliament for Ugunja Constituency in Siaya County in the 27 November 2025 by-election. Running on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket, he secured 9,447 votes, defeating Eng. Odhiambo Orodi of Wiper (1,819 votes) and several other contenders in a low-turnout contest that nonetheless delivered a decisive mandate. The seat fell vacant after former MP James Opiyo Wandayi was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, making Omondi only the second MP in Ugunja’s history since the constituency was created in 2013. Before his election, Omondi spent over a decade working behind the scenes as Ugunja Constituency Manager under Wandayi, effectively serving as the engine room for Constituency Development Fund (CDF) projects and local planning. His long tenure in that role earned him a reputation as a quiet technocrat with intimate knowledge of Ugunja’s villages, public facilities and development gaps. In his victory speech, he framed his win as continuity of Raila Odinga’s and Wandayi’s political project, promising to “take Ugunja to the next level” with more people-centred leadership while remaining loyal to ODM’s ideology.
Winning the Ugunja by-election (2025): Elected MP with 9,447 votes, giving ODM a comfortable hold on a core Siaya stronghold and signalling continued dominance of the Raila–Wandayi axis in the region.
Thirteen years of constituency administration: Served from around 2012 to 2025 as Ugunja Constituency Manager, overseeing planning, implementation and monitoring of development projects and CDF programmes, which many locals credit for his deep understanding of the constituency’s needs.
“Project of the system” vs. grassroots choice: Some critics in local forums have framed him as a “system candidate” imposed by Wandayi and ODM’s top brass, though the scale of his primary and by-election victories suggests substantial grassroots backing as well.
Questions over low voter turnout: The Ugunja by-election recorded about 24–25% turnout, prompting debate over voter apathy in ODM strongholds and whether his strong numerical victory masks declining engagement.
High expectations as “insider turned MP”: Having effectively run the constituency machinery for years, he faces elevated expectations to convert administrative experience into visible legislative impact; any lag in service delivery or CDF management will likely draw sharper criticism than for a fresh outsider.
ODM nomination victory in a competitive primary: Prior to the by-election, he clinched the ODM ticket by winning party primaries with 5,329 votes, beating Joseph Otieno Aluru and Fredrick Omondi Owino and consolidating support from the Wandayi camp.
Continuity candidate for Wandayi’s legacy: Widely portrayed as James Opiyo Wandayi’s trusted CDF manager and protégé, his win is seen as safeguarding ongoing projects in infrastructure, education and health, and preserving Ugunja’s strong alignment with ODM.
