Writes Leo Odera Omolo.
Although the newly proposed Awendo parliamentary constituency is still yet to be officially gazette by the Interim Electoral Board of Kenya it has already attracted a good number of local political luminaries and high profile potential aspirants.
The newly created constituency, when it materializes, would be curved out of the existing Rongo .parliamentary electoral area.
The proposal to have the new constituency is contained therein a report prepared by the disbanded Interim Boundary Commission, which was led by the former Vihiga MP Andrew Ligale.
The incumbent Rongo MP is Dalmas Otieno, the Minister for Public Servant, who will now defend his seat in Rongo minus the five or so administrative locations, which were included in the new Awendo district. They included Sakwa West, Sakwa Central, Sakwa East,Sakwa North, Sakwa West and Sakwa South.
The latest entry into the race for the proposed Awendo seat is the youthful Principal, of Gamba Secondary School Jared Odhiambo Kopiyo.
A graduate of Kenyatta University with MBA degree and later of the University of Nairobi with BED ,Kopiyo took his early education at the St Joseph Rapogi High School where he did his “O” level. Upon his graduation, he was posted to Ranen Girls High School as a class teacher, but immediately got promotion and moved to Anjego Secondary School as the deputy Principal before he landed his current job as the Principal of Gamba High School, which is located close to his home turf of Sakwa West Location.
Speaking during an exclusive interview with this writer at Rongo Town over the weekend, Kopiyo said if elected he would thrive to improve infrastructure, bring about the peaceful political atmosphere, enhance quality education by participating leadership in all matter related to promoting education standard in the area.
He will work hard to bring about the sanity at the nearby SONYSUGAR Company Ltd in order to enhance the income for the cane farmers in the area.
He had the intention to offer neutral leadership, which is devoid to confrontation and animosity exhibited in the area between the two previous political players. A great emphasize would be laid on the improvement of health facilities, communication and good road network both feeder and access though the SONYSUGAR has done well on this, much more should be done so that the farmers could have easy access to the markets with their farm products. He would promote peace and co-existence among the people of diverse background living in the semi-cosmopolitan constituency.
The youthful school teacher hails from Kanyamgony sub-clan, which together with Kamadhi, Kmiresi, Kanyagwala, Kasidula,Karabuor,Kombok, fall under the umbrella of the larger Kamiyawa-Kamasoga.
All the above sub-clans lives in Sakwa Central and Sakwa West, while Kakmasia,Kadera and Kanyasrega occupied the North Location Sakwa and are closely related to Waware of Sakwa East. Also in the East are the Kogelo sub-clans which originated from Alego Siaya, whereas Waware groups originated from Rusinga Island in Suba region.
The inhabitants of Sakwa South consist of the Alego Mur and Jo-Yimbo, but there are also other immigrant sub-clans like Jo-Kisumo, and others..
There are, however, more voters in Awendo Town who are grouped together with the thousands of SONYSUGAR employees. Whoever will command the voters in Awendo town plus those of the SONYSUGAR employees could definitely would emerge the winner.
Other potential contestant expected to join the race include the former two time Rongo MP George Ochillo Ayacko, who is resident of Sakwa East and a former Minister for Energy and later Sports.
Also reported to be rearing to go is Jude Ayieko a senior official with the KRA, who hails from Sakwa South, Dr Peter Abwao from Sakwa West, Prof.Erik Otieno from Sakwa East. And the man to watch is the current chairman of Awendo Town Council Johnson Omolo Owirowho is widely credited for having improved the town services such as good roads, street lights, an ultra-modern bus terminal on the main Kisii-Migori highway and sewerage system and water supplies in the town.
Like his father the late Ismael Owiro-Akoko the man who is credited for having single –handedly developed Awendo town from scratch to its present status, Mr Owiro is a prominent businessman in the town. But the town has witnessed massive development during his tenure, which also saw the construction of new Town Hal and an elaborate refuse collection and sharp improvement in revenue collection.
Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com.