A disabled ODM aspirant beat the odds in Siaya County after he trounced opponents in the just concluded party primaries.
Andrew Omwende, who was born without legs, beat the incumbent Sigomere ward representative Erick Odawa to clinch the ODM party ticket.
"I have dared to dream big despite living with a disability, I believe my main purpose on earth is to serve common people. This is my mission on earth and I believe I will achieve it," he said.
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Omwende, who relies on a wheelchair for mobility, revealed that he made his first stab at the Sigomere seat in 2007 but lost to the incumbent. He would later trounce Odawa in the 2013 general elections after picking what he termed as valuable lessons from his 2007 loss.
"The first time I contested, I lost to my opponent and this gave me some valuable lessons that helped me win the Sigomere seat in 2013. Politics is not a bed of roses and even after you are elected there are many things that come with all the elective positions," he said.
Omwende was in 2017 dethroned by Odawa who had clinched the ODM party ticket. He reveals that his 2017 loss, just like his 2007 loss, threw him back to the drawing board.
"My opponent became wiser than me in 2017. This again gave me a chance to re-strategise and today I have managed to get the party ticket. This is a victory for all of us and I believe we shall work together to make things better for the people of Sigomere and Siaya County," he said.
The ODM flagbearer in the ward representative race further downplayed reports that he uses his disability to gain sympathy votes. He exuded confidence that he is up to the task and vowed to keep championing the rights of people living with disabilities in Siaya County.
