Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma now says that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party's recent defeat in the Ugenya by-election should not be over-analysed.
This comes at a time when ODM candidate Chris Karan's defeat to Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) candidate David Ochieng has been viewed as a demonstration that ODM is losing its influence in the region.
However, Kaluma now says that the outcome of the mini-election was simply a repeat of what has been seen in the area earlier through James Orengo who is currently the Siaya Senator.
He assured ODM supporters that the defeat has no effect on the ODM's influence in not only the region but the entire nation, adding that the people only did what they thought was right.
The lawmaker argued that so determined were the voters of Ugenya to elect Ochieng that nothing was going to convince them otherwise, terming it a 'juogi', the Luo term for a strong urge.
"What happened in Ugenya was juogi, we know what happened. However, let it not be used to mislead people that ODM is growing weak. We are still very strong," said Kaluma.
He was speaking on Radio Nam Lolwe on Saturday morning.
The MP said that a similar assurance has since been given by the party leader and opposition boss Raila Odinga, proof that no damage has been inflicted on the party.
"Wuodwa (Raila) has already said that what happened in Ugenya is nothing to worry about. Let our people not be worried, we are still on the right track," added Kaluma.
However, Karan on Thursday rejected the results showing that Ochieng beat him with a margin of over 5, 000 votes, blaming the outcome on the police for allegedly intimidating his supporters.
He hinted at challenging the same in court.