What Entry of Christine Oduor Ombaka into The Gem Constituency Race Means for Other Contestants

Siaya Woman Representative Dr Christine Oduor Ombaka has declared interest in the Gem Constituency Parliamentary seat in the 2027 General Elections.

She becomes the seventh candidate to openly declare interest in the Gem Constituency National Assembly seat.

Apart from the incumbent Elisha Odhiambo, the others are Jalang’o Midiwo, Booker Washington Omole, Isaiah Ndiege, James Wamban and the Kisumu County Manager Abala Wanga.

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Christine Ombaka comes with a wealth of experience and proven stratagem both in politics and academia. She also brings an illustrious development track record from her first term as Woman Representative.

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Above all she has made history as being the only woman Representative in the Republic of Kenya to have been elected consecutively since the advent of Devolution in 2013.

Dr. Christine Ombaka holds dearly onto her campaign for the liberties of the girl child (a topic which resonates well with voters), and one she has adroitly exploited before to catapulted herself to international fame.

As for exposure she has held lectureships at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa and Maseno University in Kenya.

Her entry into the Gem Constituency political fray now complicates things for the incumbent who has been grappling with ostracization from the popular Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party.

Elisha Akuba may now have to stop chest-thumping and change strategy as Gem politics runs on clan allegiance, violence, money, party politics and gender support. All elements which Madam Christine Ombaka can maintain an upper hand on and can shore up in plenty.

The other aspect of the race that should keep her competitors up burning the midnight oil is that Madam Ombaka, out of necessity has set up an elaborate campaign machinery that saw her beat her competitors in six constituencies not once but a record three times.

Gem Constituency voters have a weakness for scholarly, assertive women such as the late Grace Ogot and this is what Christine Ombaka will be cashing on.

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