University lecturer Dr Evans Ongati has stepped up his campaign for the Kisumu East parliamentary seat ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Dr Ongati, a procurement and supply chain management specialist, has been meeting residents and community groups across the constituency as he seeks support for his bid.
The don said improving education will be one of his top priorities if elected.
According to Dr Ongati, Kisumu East is the only constituency in the county without a model school or an extra-county secondary school.
The aspiring MP said he plans to use his experience and professional networks in the education sector to improve learning outcomes.
He argues that higher investment in education could help address challenges such as school dropouts and teenage pregnancies, which he says remain common in parts of the constituency.
Dr Ongati said his campaign is aligned with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, adding that education and youth empowerment are central to his development plans.
In recent months, he has held meetings with women, youth groups and professionals drawn from Kajulu, Kolwa Central, Kolwa East, Manyatta B and Nyalenda A wards to discuss local priorities.
He also said he has been supporting vulnerable members of the community through programmes targeting orphans, widows and students from low-income families.
Dr Ongati noted that the initiatives include educational support for needy students and the construction of houses for widows.
The race for the Kisumu East parliamentary seat is expected to be highly contested.
Dr Ongati is among several aspirants seeking to unseat the incumbent MP Shakeel Shabir, who has represented the constituency since 2007.
Other declared contenders include Market Milimani MCA Seth Kanga, ICT expert Engineer Job Ndege, former civic leaders Robert Otuge and John Olum, Kisumu County Assembly Deputy Speaker Nereah Okombo, MCA Kelvin Oraro and businessman Salim Ojwang.
It remains unclear whether former ODM parliamentary aspirant Nicholas Oricho, who has previously contested the seat, will join the race. Richard Ogendo and Oselu Obondo have also been linked with possible bids.
Mr Kanga has also intensified his campaign across the constituency as he seeks to unseat Mr Shabir.
Dr Ongati said Kisumu East needs new leadership, arguing that the constituency has lagged behind in development.
He said he hopes to attract support from young voters and members of the diaspora, noting that the constituency has become increasingly urban and cosmopolitan.
Among the infrastructure projects he says he would prioritise is the tarmacking of the Rabuor–Chiga–Kibos road, which he describes as an important transport link.
Kisumu East Constituency was created ahead of the 1997 General Election following the division of the former Kisumu Town Constituency into Kisumu Town East and Kisumu Town West.
It is one of seven constituencies in Kisumu County and comprises the wards of Kajulu, Kolwa Central, Kolwa East, Manyatta B, Nyalenda A and Market Milimani.
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