Kisumu East parliamentary aspirant Shadrack Omondi Okinda has urged young people to reject politicians who recruit them for violent political activities, warning that such engagements put their lives at risk without offering any meaningful economic benefits.
Okinda said the region must abandon the politics of goonism and intolerance, arguing that electing leaders with a clear development agenda would help end the exploitation of young people for political interests.
Speaking during a funeral in Kajulu Ward on Saturday, the Linda Mwananchi-aligned aspirant lamented that while some communities were creating employment opportunities for their youth, young people in Luo Nyanza were allegedly being armed with machetes and clubs to fight political opponents.
He pledged to change the trend by creating employment opportunities for young people, including absorbing some of them into his constituency office if elected Kisumu East MP.
“Luos are sharp, but we are now perceived as fools because we are being used to fight wars we know nothing about. Other communities empower their youth by creating job opportunities for them, while in Luo Nyanza, young people are given machetes and clubs to fight one another. If elected, I will stop this nonsense,” Okinda said.
He further called on political leaders from the Luo community to embrace tolerance and discourage violence, warning that political rivalries had cost young people their lives for causes that offered them little or no benefit.
The aspirant also pledged to push for employment opportunities for Kisumu East residents at Kibos Sugar Factory, arguing that the local community should benefit more directly from the economic activities of the milling company.
Okinda also vowed to address the longstanding concerns over the alleged discharge of industrial waste from the factory into River Kibos, which residents have linked to environmental degradation and other challenges.
He said he would prioritise environmental protection and hold the relevant parties accountable if elected to represent the constituency in Parliament.
“Kibos factory will not put waste into our river again. River Kibos is ours, and I will not allow that to happen during my tenure. I urge residents to elect a leader, not a politician who ends up playing politics year in, year out. Our people will also work in the milling company because it belongs to us,” he said.
His remarks come as the Kisumu East parliamentary race begins to attract a growing field of aspirants seeking to unseat or succeed the incumbent, Ahmed Shakeel Shabbir.
Other figures linked to the contest include Kisumu County Assembly Chief Whip Seth Kanga, Philip Pande, Richard Ogendo, United Democratic Alliance aspirant George Ayugi Mbuta and prominent lawyer James Aggrey Mwamu, a former president of the East Africa Law Society.
Okinda’s entry into the race on the Linda Mwananchi ticket adds to the competition, with aspirants expected to distinguish themselves through their policy proposals, development pledges and ability to mobilise voters ahead of the next General Election.
