Ugunja Constituency by-election: A Choice of Individual Values Against Political Party Allegiance

With such a big field of candidates it’s now a matter of individual values vis-a-vis allegiance to political formations.

While speaking at the homecoming ceremony of outgoing MP, Opiyo Wandayi, now Energy Cabinet Secretary last week in Ugunja, president Ruto shrewdly avoided campaigning for the UDA Party candidate of which he is party leader. Photo | X

One would think that Frederick Dor, Edwin Otieno and Moses Omondi would stand out as frontrunners having been engaged for some time in activities that placed them in the political limelight within the Constituency.

But no, surprisingly the focus is now set on one contestant who doesn’t appear to need concerted online publicity since his name is already synonymous with agricultural activities in and out of Ugunja Constituency.

The Siaya County avocado farming group. Photo | Facebook

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Chris Budo is the Siaya County Chairman of avocado farming and is credited with developing unique initiatives to attract farmers into the lucrative industry.

Mr. Budo is not only gaining incredible mileage on the ground but the fact that his past record is free from association with graft endears him to both women and youth voters.

All the other candidates including Nick Oture, Sam Okeyo, Frederick Otieno, Kennedy Owino, Joseph Alur, Shalom Oduor, Vincent Chengo, Frederick Owino, and Andrew Omwende have peculiar strengths and interesting attributes.

But who is this Chris Budo?

Budo was born to Eunice Athieno and William Omondi Budo in Ligega Village in Ugunja, Siaya County. His father was an untrained teacher before joining the jua kali sector in Kisumu.

While many politicians make up stories of a past full of want so as to resonate with the majority voters, Budo’s mother was a well-known, notorious chang’aa vendor in Manyatta area of Kisumu. Her notoriety spread to supplying chang’aa to sprawling slums of Nairobi, like Mathare, Huruma and Kibera. 

Her brand was famously known as “Akenya” a corruption of the word “Nya-Ugenya” meaning it had that special taste of chang’aa emanating from the greater Ugenya Constituency of Siaya County.

Chris went to Masamra Primary School then completed his KCPE at Kisumu Union School, where he did well and proceeded to Mbita High School after failing to raise the required fee for Moi High School Kabarak where he had been selected to join Form One.

He would subsequently graduate with a degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Nairobi.

Chris Budo has 20 years experience working in humanitarian relief and development intervention in Kenya, Sudan, Chad, South Sudan, DRC, Nigeria and Cameroon.

He is experienced in using Participatory Rural Appraisal, PRA, and Participatory Learning & Action, PLA, Tools as well as the Right Based Approach to Development to conceptualise, design, plan, implement, monitor and evaluate poverty reduction, health, youth, education, WATSAN, protection and shelter projects. 

These are vital attributes he believes place him in a good position to serve the people of Ugunja. But besides the paper qualifications Chris is a hands-on person, often leading from the front.

Kilimo Biashara. Chris Budo (centre) participating in an avocado planting demonstration to Siaya Farmers at Gem Kagilo. Photo | Facebook

A Social Democrat with a life mission to contribute towards addressing the causes and consequences of human suffering and poverty, Chris Budo holds a vision of realising a world where peace, harmony, equity, political, economic and social justice prevails. 

Chris horned his political prowess at the citadel of academic excellence, the University of Nairobi, where he held the positions of the Interim Organising Secretary and Main Campus Executive Representative in SONU in the year 1998.

He is on record as actively participating in student mobilization in the protests known as “No Reforms No Elections” as well as the Karura Forest reclamation and demanding for the new constitution amongst other civic activities.

Above everything else Chris Budo is a passionate farmer. He has mobilised farmers to adopt avocado farming in the larger Siaya County and is currently their chairman.

He has founded an ongoing initiative in Ugunja to mobilise dairy farmers to form a cooperative society. Chris runs a demonstration farm, Ombwede Farm, where he exhibits the exponential potential of farming as a household income agent in Siaya. 

Chris Budo aspiring Member of Parliament for Ugunja Constituency. Photo | Facebook

Apart from Dholuo and English Chris speaks fluent French and basic Arabic. 

“I am a dedicated servant of the people,” Chris told this writer, adding “Using my community development and participation approaches, I am confident of winning this election.”

It now remains to be seen whether individual values and not political parties will prevail in the Ugunja Constituency by-election.

For the people of Ugunja we hope they replace the team worker James Opiyo Wandayi with a worthy successor.