Alego Usonga Member of Parliament Samuel Atandi has strongly dismissed recently released opinion polls regarding the presidential race, terming them unreliable and declaring that President William Ruto’s re-election is already a settled matter.
Speaking to constituents during a development tour, the lawmaker referenced a recent opinion poll he had reviewed, which discussed prospective political alignments and popularity trends. Atandi, however, rejected the premises of the survey, asserting that the country’s political momentum has firmly shifted.
”I saw some opinion poll yesterday… They checked us hard yesterday on that opinion poll,” Atandi told the gathering. “As to whether [Ruto] is going to be re-elected, that is a done deal.”
According to Atandi, the real political contest ahead of the polls is no longer about whether President Ruto will secure another term, but rather which region will mobilize and deliver the highest voter turnout in his favor. He challenged the Nyanza region to step up and command maximum support to maximize its strategic leverage with the national administration.
With more than 175,000 registered voters in the constituency, local leaders are intensifying grassroots campaigns to cement their strategic alignment with the current administration ahead of the polls.
Meanwhile, echoing Atandi’s sentiments elsewhere in Ugunja town, a section of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) women leaders declared their strong backing for President Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid while affirming their loyalty to the party and local leadership.
Addressing the press in Ugunja town, the women led by Paulina Atieno Oyule, Eunice Achieng, Jane Atieno Otieno, and Anastasia Odhiambo said their decision was informed by ongoing national government development initiatives in the region and across the country.
Ms. Oyule noted that President Ruto’s administration had demonstrated commitment to service delivery through key projects, including the affordable housing programme, road infrastructure upgrades, and increased recruitment of local youth into the Kenya Defence Forces and the National Police Service.
“We are ODM members, and we have decided to stand with President William Ruto for a second term because of the tangible development he has brought to Kenya. Previously, very few of our children were recruited into the disciplined forces, but today we are seeing more opportunities for our youth,” said Ms. Oyule.
The group further affirmed its support for Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and Ugunja Member of Parliament Moses Omondi, stating that they would follow the political direction charted by the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in working with the government.
However, the women issued a stern warning to politicians campaigning in the area against using abusive language or instigating violence during political gatherings.
“Anyone coming to Ugunja to seek votes must do so peacefully and with respect. We will not tolerate insults directed at our leaders or violence that puts our children in danger,” Ms. Oyule added.
On her part, Ms. Eunice Achieng commended CS Wandayi for spearheading rural electrification projects in Ugunja, noting that the connectivity drive was transforming households and local businesses. She also lauded MP Omondi for timely disbursement of National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) bursaries, urging parents to collect and submit application forms before the deadline.
Ms. Jane Atieno Otieno echoed the sentiments, praising President Ruto for running an inclusive administration free from ethnic bias. She maintained that the women would remain steadfast in ODM while supporting both the President and local leaders for continued development.
Ms. Anastasia Odhiambo emphasized that women in the constituency had resolved to mobilize in large numbers to back President Ruto, CS Wandayi, and MP Omondi, citing equitable distribution of national resources as a key factor behind their support.
