Siaya youth politician Nick Ongoro has defected back to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) from the Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG), accusing his former party of stifling young leaders while ruling out a candidacy in the 2027 General Elections.
In a press statement issued in Siaya, Ongoro said he left MDG — an outfit led by Ugenya MP David Ochieng — after realizing that his active participation and independent ideas were viewed as a threat rather than an asset for political mentorship.
”I went there with an open heart and a genuine desire to learn,” Ongoro stated. “Instead of finding the mentorship I had hoped for, I increasingly encountered an environment in which my participation appeared to be interpreted as a threat. I have chosen to take the lessons, preserve my dignity, and move forward.”
Ongoro emphasized that he holds no personal bitterness toward MDG officials, noting that his focus has shifted to strengthening grassroots leadership in Siaya County.
He anchored his return to ODM currently led by Siaya Senator Dr. Oburu Oginga on the party’s historical role in championing devolution, a legacy he credited to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Responding swiftly to the allegations, MDG Siaya County Chairman Auscar Wambiya dismissed Ongoro’s claims of intolerance, characterizing the politician as a young man in an extraordinary hurry who bypassed laid-down party channels.
Wambiya maintained that MDG has robust, gender-balanced structures extending from the county down to polling station levels, complete with dedicated youth leagues designed to nurture young leaders.
”This is a young man who had big ambitions and was not ready to learn through the process,” Wambiya said. “He was in a hurry. MDG as a party has structures from national and county levels down to wards and polling stations with dedicated youth leagues comprising gender-balanced committees of 20 people driving our agenda.”
Wambiya argued that when an individual with oversized personal ambitions is asked to work through established party mechanisms rather than demanding shortcuts, making baseless allegations becomes an easy fallback.
He nevertheless extended an open invitation to other young aspirants joining the party to work collaboratively within the existing framework.
2027 ambitions and regional politics
Clarifying his political ambitions ahead of the 2027 polls, Ongoro announced that he will not vie for any elective position. Instead, he pledged to deploy his time, energy, and resources to mobilize youth networks behind candidates committed to accountable governance, healthcare, education, and job creation.
”Our generation must not be reduced to political crowds, campaign slogans, and voting numbers,” Ongoro said, urging young residents to demand active roles in policy and county development. “The future of Siaya cannot be held hostage by individual interests. Our county is bigger than all of us.”
His return adds momentum to ongoing efforts by ODM to consolidate its traditional Nyanza stronghold ahead of the 2027 elections, as rival political formations seek to make inroads in the region.
