KNUT ELECTION CAMPAIGNS HEATS UP IN RONGO WITH CLAIMS THAT SOME UNPOPULAR CANDIDATES ARE RESORTING TO WITCHCRAFTCY

By Leo Odera Omolo

The new elections of the district branch executive in the newly created Rongo district has began in earnest with allegation and counter accusation that some unpopular candidates for the position of the branch executive secretary have gone solo consulting witchdoctors in the neighbouring country.

A good number of senior teachers are said to be interested in the post of the executive secretary. The branch has been hived from Migori branch following the recently
Establishment of the newly created Rongo district. Originally this branch was previously served by the Migori district branch.

Some name have come forward as the new entrants into the race for the coveted position of district executive secretary, but some of the name already being floated have caused stirs and is only contributing to serious division among member of the teaching fraternity in the district

Among the leading contenders were seen busy having a serious of meetings with their supporter. Behind the scene consultations are also to be in the offing whereby some candidates are said to have sought for political backing by the sitting MPs.

Rongo district has two parliamentary constituencies, namely Uriri and Roingo. The MP for Uriri is Hon Cyprian Ojuwang’ Omolo the execessively wealthy Nairobi businessman. While his counter part is Hon Dalmas Otieno, the Minister for Public Service

Insiders have confided to us that the two MPs would as much like to excluded from teachers elections politics. But in some quarters teachers are suspecting that there could be some elements of political overtones

At the same time, fears persist that clanism is likely to raise its ugly head in the teachers union politics in Rongo.

There is also the suspicion of KNUT members who are allegedly teaching while armed with fake academic certificate or forged ones. Some of the culprits in this category are the most vocal and noisy make, seeking their relatives and friend to occupy KNU office so that they in turn could protect them from being exposed by the Ministry of Education.

Rongo and Migori district are alleged to be having the largest number of teachers using fake and forged professional certificates. Even those who had no “O” level academic certificates standard educated are said to have gained undeserved entry or admission into Teachers Training Colleges through briberies. This category of teachers, according to a source in Rongo would like to retain the status quo at all costs.
Going by clanism arithmetic, the man to watch is Mr. Thomas Awino, who hails fromn Kamagambo the dominant sub-clan in Rongo Rongo Division, but currently the headmaster at Rapogi Mixed Primary School in North Kanyamkago Location in Uriri Division. MR. Awino recently graduated with a batchelor degree in education after parallel studies.

He is believed to be level minded teachers and is very popular with teachers in all the three divisions of Uriri, Awendo and Rongo. He lacked a strong challenger from his Kamagambo home turf. Awino is also advantaged. By his popularity with the teachers, though he l;acked political patronage.

Another aspirant is Mr Samuel Omwaga who is from Waware sub-location in Sakwa East Location and a member of Jo-Chula Rusinga. Sub-clan. Omwaga ius a popular candidate with good following among the teacher sdue to his accessibilkity and social interaction with fellow teacher. He is banking on support of teachers from East Sakwa and South Sakwa{Alego}. He is also said to be a formidable campaigner with a lot of support of teachers in Awendo Division.

Also in the race is the former KNUT executive secretary in Migori district Mr. John Otieno Owuor who hails from the Jo-Kamgundho a minority sub-clan in Uriri Division.

Politically, Owuor is disadvantaged by the allegation that his family had opposed the current Uriri MP Cyprian Ojuwang’ Omolo for the rapidly ageing Herman Odhiambo Omamba whom Omolo had consigned to a political limbo during the last year’s general election. It is not very clear whether the two families have since reconciled or not..

Teachers have told us that Owuor is enjoying the backing of some teachers who are allegedly armed with fake academic certificates, and that some of his supporters are those who are suspected to have vandalized the CDF. Owuor, however, will have to go full length to exonerate himself from allegation of being excessively arrogance, associating with teachers with fake academic certificates and alleged bad mouthing his opponents. His previous mission and stint at the helm of KNUT in Migori was couple with allegation is mistreatment of teachers.
Also in the race is a Mr.Omogo who is nicknamed {Mid-Day} blazing sun, while another candidate Awino has nicknamed himself as the {raising sun
.
Others who are also in the race include Mr. Edward Okello of Luwala Primary School, David Omogo of Oruba Primary School.

All the aspirants recently met on a face-to-face encounter campaign during the Prize giving day at Piny Owacho Primary School In Central Kanyamkago in Uriri Division and making accurate and unbiased assessment shows that the KNUT members in Rongo have settled on Thomas Awino to be their next branch executive secretary.

This time around, the Rongo teachers have made it clear that they would to be led by a focus and non-confrontational person who would not promote political thuggery in KNUT.

This is an idea which is well circulated following the recent unconfirmed report that a school teacher at Piny Owacho, Mr. Boaz Jakotaye Omori was recently assaulted at Nyogilo Bar in Rapogi market bar a teacher who claims to be a supporter of one of the candidates for the post of executive secretary.

Some teachers in Uriri area are said to have built palatial houses in their rural homes while allegedly using th4e stolen CDF revolving funds meant for the development and renovations of educational facilities in the area.

The Rongo teachers have also vowed to elect an enlightened teacher, but not a professional mediocre person. The time for mediocrity are long gone, remarked one teacher who preferred to remain anonymous.

CXlaims and allegation that some candidate hard pressed and facing defeat have resorted to hiring the services of witchdoctors are also rampant, but we were not able to establish the authenticity of such claims.

Ends
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Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 04:09:18 -0700 (PDT)
From: Leo Odera Omolo
Subject: KNUT ELECTION CAMPAIGNS HEATS UP