Writes Leo Odera Omolo I Homa-Bay Town.
ALTHOUGH Ndhiwa parliamentary seat in Southern Nyanza has yet to be declared vacant by the Speaker of the National Assembly behind the scene activities have intensified as the area resident search for their next MP.
Behind the scene consultative meetings are reportedly being held behind closed door both in Ndhiwa and in Nairobi pointing to the direction that the field would be very crowded with aspirants one the elections are called.
And with the general elections said to be around the corner and scheduled to be on 3 March 2013, it is not yet made publicly clear as to whether there will be by – elections to fill the two vacant seats left vacant following the recent fatal helicopter crash that killed the Internal Security Minister Prof. George Saitoti and his Assistant minister Joshua Orwa Ojode.
Prof.Saitoti was the MP for Kajiado North constituency while Orwa Ojode represented the agriculturally rich Ndhiwa constituency in the greater Southern Nyanza.
The responsibility of declaring the two seats vacant rest with he Speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Otiato Marende therefore those intending to contest for the two seats will have to wait slightly longer for the Speaker’s verdict, which will only be made known after 90 days or three months time.
Indications are, however, clear that Ndhiwa seat is likely to attract close to a dozen of new aspirants including new entrants into parliamentary competitive politics in the area.
Several names have already found their ways into public domain a some of the possible candidates who will be aspiring for the Ndhiwa seat.
Such names included that of a member of Ojode’s close family Louis Onyango Otieno. He is the eldest son of Matthews Otieno Ogingo, the once two time Ndhiwa MP who re-presented the larger Ndhiwa constituency, before it was splinted into two more than a decade ago, with the creation of the neighboring Nyatike constituency.
Louis Otieno is a top executive manager with the Microsoft Computer based in Nairobi, but managing the firm’s operations in East,Central and Southern African regions.
Photo of Louis Otieno, a potetial aspirant for Ndhiwa seat
But when reached by phone to state his intention, Otieno insisted that it was too early for him to say anything that effect, as he was still in the mourning mood, while mourning his cousin Joshua Orwa Ojode with whom he was so close to and intimately related to.
Louis Otieno is likely to face the stiffest challenge from other political elite and academic luminaries in Ndhiwa, who are expected to include Jeremiah Owiti an executive with an international NGO in Naiobi.
The populist Owiti who is known to his peers as “Jerro” hails from he neighboring Kanyidoto Location next to Kwabwayi sub-clan in which both Ojode an Otieno belonged to
Louis Otieno was born in political house, and being a close blood relative of the late MP.. Ojode’s supporters within the constituency.
This could be so because the late Orwa Ojode has left behind a very attractive development record in the constituency.
Another man to watch in Ndhiwa is the Marine expert Edward Ogonda Odero a graduate n Marine Management from a Belgium University who is currently working as the managing director of a Kisumu an Mwanza based shipping firm.
Politically aggressive an highly eloquent public speaker Odero who is known to his peers as Ted Odero,hails from the populous sub-clan in Central Kabuoch location called Karading. He is an aggressive and a tough mobilize for ODM in both Kisumu an Homa-Bay Counties.
Also expected t join the race for Ndhiwa seat,is the former MP for the area Tom Okello Obondo who lost the seat to Ojode in 1994 after ditching the Ford-Kenya then led by late Jaramoogi as Oginga Odinga on whose ticket he had won Ndhiwa seat during the first multiparty election’s as opposed to the one party monolithic system and rejoining KANU
Obondo performed dismally in the consequent by-election that followed and which saw the then youthful Ojode beating him with the largest votes margin.
Obondo, however, hails from the second largest and dominant sub-clan of Kanyamwa
Obondo, however, is considered by he electorate as a spent force and therefore posed no threat to the new group of younger political elite the region,which is one of the ODM stronghold in Southern Nyanza,
Also said to be rearing to go for the seat is a Nairobi and Mombasa based businessman Augustino Neto fro Kabuoch who is another perennial election loser.
Like Ted Odero Neto also hails from Central Kabuoch. Also expected t join the long list of contestants is Washington Ogutu kale,who hails from Kochieng’ sub-can of the large Kanyamwa clan.
What is expected to play the crucial role in the next electioneering campaign in Ndhiwa constituency will definitely be the academic background and achievement. This is will be so because the common talks making the round in the entire Luo-Nyanzainclude the next choice of leadership,especially parliamentarians, Senators and governors within the County overnance.The electorate wants to elect only the academic qualified persons as opposed to the present system whereby the moneyed individuals had sneaked into the legislative body including those known to be politically mediocre.
Some of the so-called semi-iliterate MPs have sat the August House and left after ten years without even making their maiden speeches, leave alone asking questions and supplementary questions.
The electorate in most parts of Luo- Nyanza seemed to have resolved to go only for the enlightened candidates who could actively participate in the crucial debates in the House which are significantly nationally politically importance to the country an strictly not “ common hecklers.
This time around the region will never again be the fertile ground for politically mediocres, who have perfected in the arts of making sugar-coated speeches at funeral gathering, but known to be politically an academically bankrupt and incapable of taking part on important national and international forums in English and Kiswahili which are the twin lingua franca in Kenya.
In the current parliament, only a few Lu MPs are knwn to be making regular contributions n the House. They inclued Gwassi MP John Mbadi, nominated MP Millie Odhiamb, Migori MpJohnPea, Rarieda MP Eng. Nchola Gumbo, Karachuony MP Eng James K Rege, Nyatike MP Edic Omondi Anyanga, Kisumu Town West, John Olago Aluoh, Ugenya M james Orengo, Bondo MP Dr. Oburu Oginga, Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo, Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno. And Kisumu Rural M Prof Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, the rest are just siting in the August House like county bus passengers and seeping on the job.
Ndhiwa constituency was created n 1962 first as Lambwe Valley constituency. It was then covering the regions now known as Mbita and Gwassi constituencies.
Dr Joseph-Gordon Odero -Jowi was elected as its first MP in 1963.The constituency had two regional Assembl elected member These were Matthews Otieno Ogingo {Ndhiwa} who later briefly became the vice chairman of the Nyanza Regional Assembly under the chairmanship of the late Johnson Kiragori from Bonchari in Kisii ad the late Harrison Odhiambo Midiang’a Opiyo who represented Mbita.The late Odhiambo Opiyo is the father of the firebrand nominated MP Madame Milie Ohiiambo.
Dr Odero-Jowi was beaten hands down by Matthews Otieno Ogingo I the controversial loaded 1969 general elections. He later made an appeal tot the High Court citing some far- fetched irregularities.
Otieno Ogingo election was nullified by the High Court and he latter won with even larger votes margins in the consequent by-election that followed.
Odero-jowi lost the election to Otieno Ogingo because he had stepped into the shoes of the assassinated populist the late Tom Mboya and readily accepted he cabinet apointment as the Minister for Planning an Econmic Planning Development was revered o as a hero.
Jowi’ other Luo cabinet collegue to the little known secondary school teacher James E. Mbori-Yogo in similar circumstances.
The founding PresidentJomo Kenyatta appointed Odero-Jwi Kenya’sPermanent Representative to the United Nations based in New York.
Odero Jowi left his U post and retuned home shrty before the 1974 general elections and recaptured his old Ndhiwa seat from Otieno Ogingo,but he didn’t last for longer in parliament He left thec0ntry before the end of his term and joined UN services in Canada.
A former senior police officer, Zablon Owigo Olang’, who is a cousin of Odero-Jowi wrestled the Nnhiwa seat from Otieno Ogingo for the latter to recapture the same during the 1988 mlolongo {queing voting} election master minded by the late Hezekah N Oyugi,then the powerful PS In the Office o the President In- charge of Internal Security an Provincial Administration.
Another potential aspirant who is reported to be under pressure from the electorate to joint the election race is the flamboyant Nairobi and Kampala based businessman Hilary Ochieng’ Alila- He is originally hails from Rapedhi in Ndhiwa, but has chosen Homa-Bay Town as his political center of operations.
Aila has already declared his interest in the Homa-Bay County Senate seat, which is also said to be eyed by the Immigration and Registratin of Persons Miniister Gerald Otieno Kajwang’.
Ends
