Residents of Bar Atheng in Ugunja, Siaya County were on Saturday July 3, 2021 treated to a drama when former police spokesperson Charles Owino and Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi publicly clashed during the burial of 2017 Siaya Woman Representative aspirant Florence Aluodo.

Siaya County Governor Cornell Rasanga’s 2022 succession politics took center stage as Owino and Wandayi vowed to outsmart each other in the 2022 Siaya Gubernatorial race.

Mr. Owino said that will be seeking the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party ticket in the upcoming nominations, daring Mr. Wandayi to rig him out.

While trying to woo voters, the long-serving police boss promised to transform the county for the better.

Mr Owino, who has since been moved to the Kenya National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons as a deputy director, accused Mr Wandayi of conspiring to deny Ms Aluodo victory despite winning the ODM primaries in 2017.   

Mr Wandayi, however, denied the allegations and assured Mr Owino that the party’s primaries and next year’s polls will be free and fair.

The Ugunja MP told Mr Owino to prepare to face him in the ODM primaries which he said will be free and fair, and accept whichever results will come out.

Mr Wandayi said that the ODM party is continuing with preparations for the 2022 General Election even as they wait for the Court of Appeal ruling on the Building Bridges Initiative set for August 20.

Ms Aludo died of Covid-19 complications while undergoing treatment at Mater Hospital in Nairobi.