Five candidates have declared interest in succeeding Calvince ‘Gaucho’ Okoth ahead of the Bunge la Mwananchi polls.
Gaucho has been at the helm of the activist group for the past two years and was instrumental in mobilising for the anti-government demonstrations in mid-2023.
The demonstrations, graced by several opposition allied politicians including Azimio leader Raila Odinga, were aimed at putting pressure on the government to lower the cost of living.
Gaucho recently confirmed to Nairobi News he will not be seeking re-election, amid further reports he is eyeing a parliamentary seat in the 2027 polls.
Speaking to Nairobi News, Frank Awino, one of the five candidates, said he is ready to fit into the big shoes left by Gaucho.
“I want to take the Bunge La Mwananchi social movement to the next level. A movement whose main calling was to enhance good governance, devoid of corruption and impunity, across all levels of governance for a sustainable and progressive society, to enforce public accountability, to institute legal action against any person found to have misappropriated public funds, to name and shame corrupt person(s) and those accused of abuse of public office,” Awino told Nairobi News.
He also noted his interest is in the Bunge people and ensuring that their interest is protected and fulfilled.
“Our campaign will not be about me; it will be about you, about human rights and social justice, about tax justice and labor rights, about the implementation of article 43 of the constitution of Kenya 2010, about the hard-working members of Bunge La Mwananchi Social Movement who form the backbone of this nation. It will be about the students who dream of a brighter future, the entrepreneurs who strive to create jobs, the farmers who feed our nation, and the families who make sacrifices every day for a better life,” he added.
However, a few months ago, Gaucho told Nairobi News that his successor would not have an easy time considering that he raised the movement’s political bar to national levels.
He stated, “It is true that I have significantly elevated the movement to a point where it is now nationally recognized. While the movement has existed for a long time, none have promoted it as effectively as I have.”
He went on to highlight that the movement had seen multiple presidents in the past, but none had succeeded in making it widely known.
Currently, Bunge la Mwananchi enjoys nationwide recognition, and Gaucho has become a prominent figure within the movement.
Gaucho’s rise in national politics has been noteworthy.
Despite his origins as a “ghetto president,” he has gained substantial popularity since the August 9, 2022 General Election and has emerged as a prominent figure in opposition political rallies.
By Winnie Onyando
