The surprising move has changed the political environment only days before voters head to the polls on November 27.
For weeks, many people expected UDA to support the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate Boyd Were.
This expectation came from the broad-based working agreement between ODM leader Raila Odinga and President William Ruto, which promotes cooperation between the two parties.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki had even visited Kasipul and campaigned for Boyd Were, calling him the agreed candidate of the coalition.
However, a new twist appeared when UDA officials from Kasipul and Homa Bay held a rally and declared that they would not follow the earlier position.
The UDA chairman in the constituency, Arthur Onyango Aoko, told residents that the party had lost trust in ODM’s nomination process.
He claimed that the ODM primaries were chaotic, unfair, and influenced by powerful individuals.
Aoko said that if ODM had conducted a clean and transparent election, UDA would have stood with Boyd Were.
He insisted that the mistakes during ODM nominations created a situation where UDA officials could no longer support the Orange party.
He also mentioned that the attack on the hospital owned by Kepher Ogada was another sign that ODM did not respect fairness.
According to him, these actions pushed them to look for a different candidate who could represent the people without political interference.
Aoko explained that their new goal was to help Philip Aroko win the parliamentary seat and later invite him to work closely with President William Ruto’s government.
He said this would allow Kasipul to benefit from national development and remain connected to government opportunities.
Philip Aroko welcomed the support with confidence. He said the endorsement showed that leaders in the region believed in his vision.
Aroko reminded the crowd that three years ago, ODM members had called him a UDA mole. He said that now the same people who doubted him had seen that he stands for unity and development.
Aroko called himself a strong believer in the Kenya Kwanza administration. He told residents that supporting him means supporting progress and national stability.
He said he wants to make Kasipul a constituency that works with the government instead of staying in opposition politics.
According to him, this will bring better roads, better schools, and more opportunities for young people.
The latest events have created confusion among voters. Some still believe ODM is the strongest party in the region, while others feel the independent route may bring new leadership.
With only days remaining, the Kasipul race has become one of the most closely watched political contests in the country.
The final decision now lies in the hands of the voters, who will determine which direction Kasipul will take in the coming years.
Tags:
Politics