Oketch ‘Swagga’: Why I Am the Ideal Candidate for Kisumu Central Seat

It has been known to be a position left for the high end. People refer to it as a billionaire seat, but I believe it is time they elected one of their own.

KISUMU, 12th Feb.2026 –With nearly two years to the 2027 General Election, Kondele Member of County Assembly (MCA) Joachim Oketch, popularly known as “Swagga,” has maintained an early and sustained campaign for the Kisumu Central parliamentary seat, banking on his grassroots appeal and long-standing presence in the constituency to secure the ODM ticket.

Oketch, who also doubles up as Chair of Budget at the Kisumu County Assembly, says his campaign will focus on economic empowerment, education reforms and grassroots engagement.

He argues that Kisumu Central has for years been perceived as a “seat for the high end,” often dominated by wealthy or non-resident candidates.

“My main reason for going for this seat is to change the politics of Kisumu Central,” Oketch said in an interview.

“Kisumu Central has been known to be a position left for the high end. People refer to it as a billionaire seat, but I believe it is time they elected one of their own.”

Born and raised in the informal settlements of Manyatta, Oketch says his background gives him a unique understanding of the challenges facing residents in areas such as Obunga, Nyalenda, Nyawita and Migosi.

He has often referred to himself as “Slumboy” and says the nickname reflects his roots and connection with ordinary voters.

“Why somebody from the slum? It’s because I better understand the problems of the people of Kisumu Central,” he said.

“When you talk about low-income business people, I represent them because I have been doing business at the lowest level.”

Education is at the centre of his proposed agenda. Oketch says he intends to reform how bursary funds are distributed, criticising the practice of parents lining up at constituency offices to seek school fees support.

Instead, he proposes direct engagement with schools and education stakeholders to ensure funds are channelled more efficiently.

“I am against this issue of women lining up in offices to come for bursaries,” he said.

“We need to engage the public day schools and headteachers so that this money goes directly to schools. Let parents pay what they can, and the constituency clears the balance.

Oketch argues that Kisumu Central, with its dense population and significant needs, requires more than symbolic development projects.

He says leaders have often focused on brick-and-mortar initiatives while neglecting long-term social and economic impact.

“We need to graduate from politics where you build a classroom, name it after yourself and say you have worked,” he said.

“This is a very special constituency with a high population, and we need to do something that impacts the entire generation.”

Currently serving as Chair of Budget at the county assembly, Oketch cites his financial management experience as proof that he can handle the demands of a resource-constrained constituency.

He has previously worked in the banking sector and with multinational firms, experience he says has sharpened his skills in resource allocation and oversight.

“It’s all about how you learn to share and distribute the resources that you have,” he said, adding that; “I have worked at very high levels managing resources, and I understand how to prioritise needs.”

Kisumu Central has developed a reputation as a one-term constituency, with incumbents often failing to secure re-election. Oketch attributes this trend to the election of candidates who lack strong local roots.

“In most cases, they elect non-residents of Kisumu,” he said.

“They come stationed here for a certain period of time, give voters some goodies, and once elected, they disappear. I am a local who was born here, went to school here and still works here.”

A staunch ODM member, Oketch says party loyalty will guide his campaign. He considers himself the most senior high-ranking ODM official currently based in Kisumu Central and believes he is well placed to secure the party’s nomination.

“My number one consideration as a party will be ODM, number two ODM and number three ODM,” he said. “If they have a consideration for a direct ticket, I should be the number one consideration. But because we don’t fear competition, I am going to beat all the other candidates in the ODM primaries.”

On the campaign trail, Oketch says he began grassroots mobilisation shortly after the 2022 General Election and has no intention of waiting until the official campaign period.

Through an initiative dubbed “Swagga Mashinani,” he plans to conduct sustained engagement across the six wards of the constituency.

“I started my engagement right after the elections of 2022,” he said. “My politics is based on strategic engagement one-on-one with the people. I want to talk to them, I want to listen to them.”

He has also addressed concerns about the influence of organised youth groups, often referred to locally as “Mbogi,” who have been accused of disrupting political events.

Oketch says he intends to work with and empower them rather than confront them.

“These mbogis are our brothers who grew up here,” he said. “It is only that they have been weaponised. I will not weaponise them against my opponents, but I will strive to empower them with projects that are tangible and able to change their lives.”