GREAT PANICKING GRIPS HOMA-BAY COUNTY AS THE CAMPAIGN BY THE YOUTHFUL ASPIRANT FOR THE REGIONAL SENATE SEAT HIT THE GROUND WITH THE THUDS LIKE THUNDERSTORM SENDING SEASONED POLITICIANS INTO SCARE.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town

The waves of popularity of one of the youthful aspirants vying for the Homa-Bay County Senate seat has hit the ground with heavy bang sending the established seasoned politicians into great panicking and scare.

Hilary Ochieng’ Alila, then a 37 year old Nairobi based businessman, had started his campaign two years ago and were initially viewed by his opponents as a big joker and not a serious contender for the coveted political positions in the regional governance.

One of Alila’s rivals in the contest for the Senate seat is the Immigration and Registration of Persons Minister Gerald Otieno Kajwang’.

The latter is also the incumbent MP for Mbita, which is one of the eight parliamentary constituencies within the Homa-Bay County.

Another potential rival expected to join the race soon is the abrasive Ndhiwa MP Johua Orwa Ojode, who is an Assistant minister for the Internal Security. Ojode has yet to declare his intention publicly, while Otieno Kajwang’ has made his position publicly clear that he would not defend his Mbita seat and instead has switched to the Senate. The Minister has since pitched his political camp from Mbita Town, which is his home turf to Homa-Bay. He is also the ODM Homa-Bay County branch chairman. a powerful position which has given him an overriding influence and advantage over his competitors.

Ojode whose track record at the constituency level is said to have the blessing of his Ndhiwa constituents who he has represented in parliament as an MP ever since 1993 when he won the seat for he first time.

Kajwang’ is, however, reported to have burned the bridges with his Mbita constituents due to his dismal performance ever since he first won the seat in 1997.

He will be leaving the constituency without the political goodwill of the electorate following his recent outbursts about the true background and the existence of the Suba sub-tribe. The Suba people are the majority of the inhabitants of Mbita.

The controversy involving KaJwang’s reported disapproval of the recent realignment of the two parliamentary constituencies within the two Suba districts by the Interim Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission{IEBC], which had renamed the present Gwassi Constituency as “The Suba South while Mbita was renamed Suba North Constituency. Kajwang’ who has since moved to court challenging the IEBC decision renaming the two constituencies. He was quoted as having vowed that Mbita could only be renamed Suba Norrth constituency over his dead body.

The feuds between Kajwang’ and his Mbita constituents has since given more room of maneuvering the Minister out of Mbita by his two political rivals, Namely the Nominated MP Millie Odhiambo and the supporters of a wealthy Nairobi based business tycoon Sammy Wakiaga.

Reports emerging from Mbita town says that a CDF local committee meeting which was scheduled to be held in Mbita Town at the weekend was cancelled at the eleventh hour and switched to Homa-Bay town instead. The meeting was to be chaired by Kajwang’, but could not take place in Mbita due to intensive internal feuds between the Minister and he CDF committee members.

Hilary Alila’s organizational and mobilization ability has placed him ahead of the two senior and seasoned politicians in the region, namely Kajwang’ and Ojode. Alila has made Homa-Bay Town his operational headquarters where the bands of youths allied o him are roaming the streets freely and ready to harass and dismiss any politician who do not agree with the politics of the Nairobi-based businessmen. His popularity has spread like bush fire in all the eight parliamentary constituencies within the Homa-Bay County,namely Kasipul-Kabondo, Kasipul, Karachuonyo, Rangwe, Homa-Bay Town, Ndhwa, Suba South[formerly Gwassi] and Suba North {formerly Mbita}.

Within the shortest period time since his name came into the political limelight, Alila has moved much faster making major inroads in all the eight constituencies sending his detractors into great panicking and scare.

The Nairobi tycoon has gained foothold in the two Rachuonyo districts, Ndhiwa and Gwasi districts. He has conducted several successful harambee fund drives for women groups, youths projects, schools and medical facilities.

Kajwang’ who is considered to be man closest to the Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the ODM leader and Ojode are not on speaking terms. Speculations are ripe that Ojode could throw his weight behind Alila who has the family root in Ndhiwa. This could spell dooms to Kajwang’political ambition of becoming the first Senator for Homa-Bay County

Alila, however, appealed to his two rivals to conduct their campaign in a mature manner which is issues-based and devoid of hate speeches and names calling.

Alila scathingly criticized unnamed politicians in the region who have already engaged on issuing threatening SMS short message via their cellphones.

Political maturity will give the electorates ample opportunity to pick only the best candidate who will deliver the goods and not those engaged in empty political slogans.

Ends