And when he declared interest for the Busia senate seat on ODM ticket, some quickly dismissed him saying he lacked touch with the grassroots support. But what many did not understand is that Wako, who weathered many storms during his 20-year tenure, as the attorney is a witty man whose ability cannot be underestimated. The decision to join ODM in a public spectacle conducted by Prime Minister Raila Odinga was a masterpiece that that saw him get the Party’s direct nomination after rivals were scared off. And when former Nambale MP Chris Okemo decided to contest the senate seat on Ford-Kenya ticket under CORD, excitement among Wako’s supporters temporarily subsided, owing to Okemo’s political experience, financial resources and near perfect public speaking ability.
“My rival likened my political naivety to a nursery school kid and I am happy to take the underdog tag. Just like in the David vs. Goliath fight I am confident of winning,” said Wako during one of his campaign tours of Butula constituencies.
Okemo confidence emanated from the fact that being an economist; the county resources would be better utilized under his leadership as a senator than when under Wako. “He (Wako) is a good friend of mine and a brilliant legal expert who can work well as advisor of Raila but not as a senator,” said Okemo.
Wako then moved fast and secured the services of Okemo’s former campaign team members, including his former personal assistant Peter Odima and Chris Mugeni, who he hired as a personal assistant. With the duo, and knowing the grassroots support enjoyed by ODM, Wako campaign team laid a 10 point strategy aimed at improving education, infrastructure, reducing poverty, increasing productivity in agriculture, as well as increasing cross-border trade.
Boosted with a huge financial resource, Wako was able to match and even supersede Okemo in all aspects of campaign within the seven constituencies in Busia County namely Budalangi, Butula, Funyula, Matayos, Nambale, Teso North and Teso South.
He even convinced the local Ford-Kenya branch official to endorse his candidature and not the one sponsored by their party. Several groups such as teachers, youth groups, professionals, and community-based organisations followed suit and a few days to election Wako had become a household name in the whole county.
Okemo’s course was not helped by his last five years as an MP, where his continued absence from the ground made him unpopular with the local voters, a factor that saw him lose to Wako even in his home polling station where he got 107 votes against Wako’s 116 votes.
Wako won in all the seven constituencies, garnering 146,828 votes against Okemo’s 59,413 votes.
“I am overwhelmed by the confidence shown to me by voters. This is a strong statement that will surely put me on toes as I represent the county as a senator,” said Wako.
