The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has nominated a 47-year-old cobbler from Masiro in East Ugenya to represent the interests of people with disabilities (PWDs) in the Siaya County Assembly.
Locals who believed that ODM nomination slots were always reserved for relatives of senior politicians or well-connected individuals were surprised by Fredrick Odhiambo Oloo’s nomination.
Odhiambo was among the many leaders who showed up for the orientation exercise on Monday, ahead of their inauguration on Tuesday.
He received the news of his nomination while mending worn-out slippers at his Bondo Kolalo workshop. He would earn between Sh150-200 a day.
“I am still shocked that a cobbler who is disabled like me is now being referred to as ‘Mheshimiwa’. I cannot thank the ODM party enough,” he said during an interview with the Star.
“I know the problems bedevilling people like me in society. Once sworn in, I will go back to the villages and lead them in discussing solutions to their problems,” Odhiambo added.
Odhiambo attributed his nomination to his loyalty and love for governor James Orengo and the ODM party.
He explained that as a cobbler, he liked politicking at his place of work and always persuaded voters to support Orengo and Raila Odinga.
