Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) parliamentary aspirant for Ugenya Constituency, Rogers Sagana, has called on residents across the region to maintain political tolerance while urging the community to remain united under the ODM banner to secure a strong voice in national resource allocation.
Addressing supporters in Ugenya, the politician warned that hostility toward rival candidates threatens the region’s long-standing reputation as a bastion of democracy.
”I have noticed a very concerning pattern that is increasing about political intolerance, especially in Luoland,” Sagana said, insisting that differing opinions and alternative political parties must be given safe space to operate.
While maintaining his loyalty to ODM, Sagana argued that political dominance should be achieved through democratic persuasion rather than intimidation. He urged residents to allow opposition figures to market their ideas freely before persuading the electorate back to the party.
”Politics is all about persuasion. Let anybody else with a different opinion or party come here, sell their agenda, and sell their policies,” he said. “We must give them that space and tranquility. After they have gone, we will go back to our people and persuade them to join that common cause.”
Beyond democratic freedoms, Sagana linked internal tolerance directly to national bargaining power. Invoking the “Hagelian theory” of community spirit, he warned that Nyanza cannot effectively demand its share of national resources if internal violence or division fractures the region’s voting block.
”We need to be at the table where how resources are divided are decided,” Sagana said. “We cannot be on that table with a good say if we are not united and we do not vote as a block.”
His strong stance signals growing internal pressure within ODM to balance party supremacy with political tolerance as competition intensifies across Nyanza ahead of the upcoming elections.
