[Former Bonchari MP Charles Onyancha in a past event. He has dismissed claims that he would seek Bonchari seat on an ODM ticket. Photo/nation.co.ke]
Former Bonchari Member of Parliament Mr Charles Onyancha on Thursday denied claims that he would seek to reclaim the seat on an ODM ticket.
The former legislator said he would vie for the seat on a KNC ticket in his quest to reclaim the seat he lost to Oroo Oyioka in 2013.
Mr Onyancha, who was later locked out of the by-election following a successful court petition by Mr Zebedeo Opore against Oyioka’s victory, attributed his problems to individuals he called the party owners in the region.
“A few individuals who won the party conspired to deny me the ODM ticket after the petition was concluded in favour of a fresh election. To me, this was the last straw as far as staying in ODM was concerned,” he said.
Mr Onyancha said he was determined to feature on the ballot box on a KNC ticket, saying it was the only party that could be relied upon to transform Kisii politics.
Flanked by party leader and South Mugirango MP Manson Nyamweya, Mr Onyancha said he had been approached by among others Governor James Ongwae to reconsider his stand but had refused.
“It is true that Governor Ongwae and other party leaders have approached me to reconsider my stand on decamping from ODM but I told them that I am in KNC to stay. My decision is final and I look forward to featuring on the ballot under a KNC ticket,” Mr Onyancha said.
He alleged that the same people who withheld his ticket in the by-elections were again looking for him to spearhead the ODM campaigns in the area.
“It is the corrupt practices that I witnessed at the local ODM branch which influenced my decision to decamp to KNC. My loyalty to Raila Odinga and Nasa however remains strong,” said Mr Nyamweya.
The defectors were received by party leader, South Mugirango MP and gubernatorial aspirant Manson Nyamweya.
The governorship aspirant expressed confidence in unseating incumbent governor James Ongwae in the next polls.
Responding to Mr Onyancha’s announcement, Bonchari ODM aspirant Mr John Momanyi dismissed his assertions, saying his party was the dominant political force in the region.
“We are prepared to take back the seat we briefly held from March 2013 to June 2014. ODM will reclaim the seat by a landslide since its support base on the ground is unassailable,” said Mr Momanyi.