Ugenya MP David Ochieng’ on power, zoning and MDG party’s 2027 election plan

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Movement for Democracy and Growth leader David Ochieng speaks with rare candour about political survival and ambition in one of the country’s most fiercely contested regions.

In this interview with the Star reporter Luke Awich, Ochieng’ weighs in on why President William Ruto should resist ODM’s push for zoning in the region. He also outlines MDG’s national ambitions. Here are the excerpts:

Ugenya is firmly within an ODM zone, yet you have consistently won elections against the party candidates. How have you managed to survive politically in such an environment?

As you know, all politics is local and depends on how people feel about your leadership. I have been lucky that I earned the trust of my constituents and they believe I mean well for the constituency. You know, I went to Parliament as a very young person. I think I spent most of my time trying to serve and it paid off. That is why every time ODM came with their brigade in 2017, in the by-elections and in the last elections, I was able to win. People like a leader who listens to them and does as they say. That has helped us so much that every time there is an election, Ugenya people know where to vote. We have built public trust with our constituents and set up a very strong foundation when we won our first term in 2013.

How difficult has it been operating outside the dominant ODM political structure in Nyanza? Have you faced political hostility or isolation as a result?

It is extremely lonely. When you have meetings that are community-oriented, you are always seen as an outsider.

As the leader of MDG, how are you positioning the party ahead of the 2027 election?

As you would know, we started doing 2027 preparations in 2023. We have set up proper structures of the party in Kilifi, Kwale, Taita Taveta and Mombasa counties. We have very strong party structures set up in Narok and Kajiado, Trans Nzoia, Kakamega, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Siaya and Migori. We also have very good bases in Uasin Gishu and Kericho. We are really out to ensure our party is everywhere. As I speak to you, I am certain of around 58 MPs, some of them sitting MPs. Over the last six months, we have received gubernatorial aspirants who want to run in Mombasa, Kilifi, Migori, Homa Bay, Siaya, Kisumu, Taita Taveta, Busia, Trans Nzoia, Bungoma and Kajiado. We have 16 senators who want to run on MDG. Undeniably, the demise of Raila Odinga comes with a lot of dynamics in politics, and we continue studying them. You can be sure that the MDG party will have a strategy that takes into account any fallouts that will be in ODM or UDA.

Even as you prepare the party for 2027, ODM has proposed zoning the region to block UDA affiliates from rivaling them in Nyanza. What is your assessment of this proposal?

Fortunately, what is being negotiated now is between UDA and ODM, not ODM and Kenya Kwanza. MDG will not be involved. So, if they agree that they are going to zone the Nyanza region, that is their business. That would not affect MDG from fielding candidates. We will field MPs from the 27 Nyanza constituencies. We will have four governors, four senators and women representatives. We will also field MCAs from the four counties. That is not negotiable. I want to assure all our members, wherever they are, that any engagement entered into between ODM and UDA will not affect MDG’s plans.

Do you see zoning as a genuine effort to strengthen regional unity, or as a move that could lock out smaller parties and independent voices like MDG?

It depends on how you look at it. Talking about Luo Nyanza, Raila really helped Luo Nyanza in his lifetime, but in his absence our best bet as a people is to have the best governors, MPs and MCAs. How do you get the best leaders? Encourage competition.

Critics argue that politicians who go against ODM weaken Nyanza’s bargaining power at the national level. How do you respond to that narrative?

That is very lazy thinking. The idea that people are going to bargain should not be the reason for elections. People go to elections because they want leaders who can lead them. For instance, if MDG won 20 seats out of 27, wouldn’t we be bargaining for Nyanza people? Who said that only ODM should bargain for the Nyanza people? Any party that has a majority in Nyanza can bargain for the people.

What is your main reason for opposing zoning? Is it a survival tactic?

The biggest worry about zoning is voter apathy. In the last by-elections, Mbeere North turnout was around 47 per cent, Kasipul was 42.9 per cent and Malava constituency was 43 per cent. In Ugunja, it was 25 per cent. Ugunja came lowest because there was no competition. So, to help President Ruto and help bring democracy in the country, we should avoid and frown upon any pact that zones part of the country to a particular political party. He needs MPs to govern, but he needs to win the election first and then govern.

What message are you sending to aspirants who fear sham nominations in dominant parties but are reluctant to go against the grain?

People should pursue their ambition to the extent that is possible. In this coming election, we welcome all aspirants to MDG. We are encouraging them to register early because we do not want people going into other parties and then returning only after they have been cheated. Legally, when you go to party primaries and fail to be nominated, the best you can do is run as an independent. Those who fear going for primaries and those who feel they will be cheated in other parties are welcome to MDG.

There have been reports about your interest in the Siaya gubernatorial seat. What would distinguish your leadership from ODM-backed contenders?

I believe that our county has been very disadvantaged. Our first governor, Cornel Rasanga, did not have time to plan for a race. Remember, he was asked to come in to fill a gap. He did not have his own plan about what he wanted to do, but he put up very good structures and systems, and we must give him that. However, in terms of delivery — agriculture, healthcare, ECDE, tourism and health — he did not do well. Our second governor, James Orengo, has done so poorly because he did not have a plan.

For me, I look at Siaya county as a very prime county. It has resources, and we should not live in poverty the way we do today. Siaya is the only county that has five lakes and no single fish factory. The fish comes to the shores, is put on trucks and transported to Thika and other towns. The county has one of the best beaches, but they are untapped. A prison sits on the most prime land, about 200 acres, which I will move and build a conference centre to create jobs. Siaya is the only county in Nyanza that can produce cotton in every constituency. In fact, I believe that within one year of my being governor, all school uniforms will be made in Siaya. The eggs eaten in the whole of Nyanza come from Uganda because they produce animal feed cheaply.

In healthcare, Siaya is at the extreme end of Nyanza. People end up in Busia, Kakamega or Eldoret to do basic things like CT scans, which can be done within the county. We will ensure all sub-counties have basic services so that people can access them. There is so much to do. In my first term, every single home will have tapped water. Agriculture is our mainstay, but people are still buying maize. It can be changed. We will make it possible for people to get cheap credit. These require proper interventions, which are not forthcoming.

Finally, what is your take on the ongoing ‘kingpin’ debate following the demise of the former Prime Minister?

Kingpin was a name coined to describe Raila. It was not meant to be a political position that people inherit.