WRITES Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town.

AS leaders in various constituencies in Luo-Nyanza reportedly rearing to go for the dozens of position created within the four Counties under the new constitution, reports’ reaching this small harbor town says the battle for the position of the future County governor has attracted more aspirants than other posts.

This is followed next by the Kisumu County where several high profile candidates have already hit the ground campaigning for the Senate and governorship positions.

In other Counties like Siaya and Migori, the campaign activities are said to be still very low-keyed, but are expected to pick up within the coming weeks. This is perhaps due to the new culture of “Gonywa” (free us} tactics of handouts which is sweeping through the region like the bush fire. Whenever a political personality suspected to be planning to contest any of either county, national assembly or senate seat appears in public, such a person is immediately surrounded by hungry youths shouting “Gony Yudhe” {free the youths”, which is meant that such a person should cough out some money in the form of handout to the youths.

The culture is even getting worse at funeral gatherings where youths have been seen surrounding the vehicles of belonging to VIPs and demanding money with menaces.

However, the Homa-Bay County Senate seat has attracted the least names of aspirants. There are only two names as for now and that is that of the youthful Ndhiwa politician Hilary Ochieng’ Alila, and that of the former Kasipul-Kabondo MP William Oloo Otula. The latter has, however, confined his activities to within the two Rachuonyo districts of South and North.

Alila who is also doubles as the coordinator of the ODM youths in the region appeared to be well organized and much mobile in all parts of Homa-Bay County. His influence is felt in most parts of the country including the two fishing islands of Mfangano and Rusinga, Gwassi, Rangwe and Karachuonyo and Kasipul-Kabondo constituencies.

Otula is said to be banking on the residents of the two most populous Rachuonyo districts for votes. But unknown to him, his arch rival Alila is making major inroads into the two regions with thud.

The 36 year old politician presided over Harambee fund drive for Powo SDA Church in Sindo, Gwassi constituency, and youth leaders from Karachuonyo and Kasipul-Kabondo constituencies accompanied him, and so were youth leaders from Ndhiwa his home turf, Rangwe and Mbita.

This position could change drastically if Mbita MP Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ joins the race as it is being rumored that he is contemplating the possibility of changing his position from defending his Mbita seat, in which is said to be very safe for the contest of the Senate. But at a recent leaders meeting in Homa_Bay Town Kajwang’ had made his position clear by reaffirming that he would defend his Mbita seat, so far the status has remained the same and unchanged despite the presence of a strong rumors to that effect.

Alila’s other unique quality is the ability to reach members of other neighboring communities like the Kuria, Kalenjin, Luhyia and Kalenjin and he is a strong campaigner for the party leader Raila Odingadue to his communication skills.

The Female senate representative position for the Homa-Bay County appeared to have attracted few contestants with only the name of the nominated MP Ms Millie Odhiambo is featuring prominently in nearly all the six constituencies.

Other names being mentioned including of that of the TSC Commissioner and former PDE in Nyanza Mrs Roselyn Onyuka, the veteran women leader and former Karachuonyo MP Mrs Dr Phoebe Muga Asiyo, Mrs Monica Amolo a perennial parliamentary election loser in Ndhiwa.But none has come forward to confirm her candidature.

Another high profile woman whose name is also frequently being mentioned and featuring prominently is the youthful and attractive Mrs Eve Obara. But she is has yet to show interest in contesting any elective position within the Homa-Bay County. Obara is the representative of the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake in Nyanza and currently serving the government as the Managing Director of the Kenya Literature Beurau.

Another position which appeared to have attracted more credible contestants is that of the County governor. And the real election battle is expected between the three leading aspirants, namely Eng.Phillip Okoth Okundi, the former country director of Marie Stoppie Clinics Cyprian Otieno Awiti and the computer genius Dr Mark Matunga who is an executive with the Microsoft International.

A recent survey whose source has yet to be established had shown Awiti to be on the lead with 18 point followed closely by Dr Matunga with 17 points Okundi trailing in third position. But a physical check conducted by this writer showing clearly that it is Okundi who is on the lead followed by Awiti while Dr. Matunga is placed in the third position.

Other aspirants for the governorship include the colorless incumbent MP for Rangwe Martin Otieno Ogindo, another Rangwe man Isaiyah Ogwe who is working with the Treasury in the Ministry of Finance who is yet to confirm his candidature. Also in the race is Professor Akeyo the chairman of CDF in Karachuonyo and a senior lecturer in the Physic department at the Maseno University.

Akeyo, however, met an unfortunate mishap when he encountered a fatal road accident while travelling between Kisumu and Maseno after hosting a lavish party for thousands of supporters at his Wagwe home in Central Karachuonyo the previous weekend. His first wife, a young son together with his brother died in the accident while the professor sustained a broken neck and serious head injuries.

Also in the race for the governor is a Nakuru based trader Opiata Ogada from Rusinga island, who also a perennial parliamentary election loser in Mbita constituency.

MP Ogindo stands a very slim chance of winning the governorship position owing to the strong showing of his arch-political rival in the Rangwe politics Eng.Okundi. The latter’s brief stint as the Rangwe MP which ended in 2007 had given him a lot of credibility, especially due to his development track record and fair distribution of revolving funds such as CDF etc.

Okundi is highly respected as an honest man, and industrious man who had established various trading and manufacturing companies in which several people are employed and earning their livelihood. He is also being credited for being loyal to the Luo political kingpin Raila Amolo Odinga.

Okundi is the current chairman of the ODM election board and the Communication Council of Kenya {CCK}. And despite of being despised by young politicians owing to his advanced age, Okundi is very much popular with the rural forks, particularly the peasants and women. It will therefore be an uphill task for anyone to beat him in the battle for the Homa-Bay County governors.

Awiti’s strength lies on members of the Catholic Church. He is a staunch catholic who has done a lot for the church. He has the lead on the record of donations towards various economic, education and social amenities projects in the larger Southern Nyanza region.

Dr Matunga’s candidature is more appealing to the youths. He is being credited for his oratory and very attractive and the platform. His influence is visible in patches of areas such as Kabondo, Mbita, Rusinga, Mfangano, Gwassi and part of Karachuonyo. But he has yet to make an impact in the highly populous regions like Rangwe and Ndhiwa. The two regions are so important for anyone eyeing the Senate seat. Another area is the far flung Gwassi district. There is a significant present of Awiti and Matunga in Gwassi.

The battle between the three leading aspirants would be given proper assessment after the month of December because more prominent names are expected to join the race for the same governor’s position.

Ends