News Analysis by Arrum Tidi Ogonglo in Homa-Bay Town

The recent tour of Ndhiwa district by the Prime Minister Raila Odinga was a big blessing for dozens of aspirants vying for the various elective positions with the Homa-Bay County.

The man whose lady-luck came calling was the former Country Director of Marie Stoppie Clinics Cyprian Otieno Awiti. He is a candidate in the crowded contest for the position of the Homa-Bay County governor.

There were also other aspirants who would be contesting for the elective positions with the County governance, parliament, senate and county wards.

Raila was in Ndhiwa during the last lap of the campaign for the just concluded by-election in the area. He had gone there to drum up support for this ODM party candidate Agustino Neto Oyugi, who eventually emerged the victorious.

A large number of political luminaries in the greater Southern Nyanza region, especially those eyeing seats within Homa-Bay County turned up in full force to cheer up their leader. Raila and hi entourage made ten stop-overs at the various market places trading centers and, schools and wound up his tour with a public rally at Ndhiwa Town, which was attended by a mamm0th of crowd.

The Prime Minister traversed the full length and width of the expansive Ndhiwa constituency and where he went, Raila who was in jolly mood introduced to the public all the political personalities who had accompanied him. He singled out the names of those who will be vying for the various elective positions calling the names out.

And the man whose name received prolonged applause and ululations was none-other than Cyprian Awiti whom the PM referred by”Ja-Mawego or Ja-Kodondo” telling the crowd that Awiti is eyeing for the position of Homa-Bay County governor.

The mention in of Awiti’s name was received with shouts of “Ja-Mawego kende emawadwaro” We want Awiti only we want or Jomoko go to wakia “we Don’t recognize the others”.

Local pundits were quick in pointing out that this was an act of endorsement Awiti as the man favored by ODM to clinch the Homa-Bay County governor position.

Awit who sat quietly and mingled easily with the huge crowd had his presence not recognized by the crowd until Raila called him by the name. There were several other aspirants for the same position who wee also in attendance and had their names also mentioned by the PM, but the response was very dull. His rivals for the same seat included the former chairman of the ODM election Board Eng Phillip Okundi, a computer experts working with Microsoft Computer International African region Dr Mark Matunga who hails fro Suba region,, Prof Akeyo Omolo from Karachuonyo.

The populist Awiti hails from eastern parts of Karachuonyo constituency lead the packs with highly illustrious track record of active participation in the development activities that spans back to ten years. He has made extensive tour of the entire Homa-Bay County making hefty cash donation towards socio-economic infrastructure, schools, Medicare institutions, churches, women and youth group until his name has become an household word almost to every family.

The County is one of the largest inside Luo-Nyanza covering 8 parliamentary constituencies of Mbita, Gwassi, Ndhiwa, Rangwe, Homa-Bay Town, Karachunyo, Kasipul and Kabondo-Kasipul.

If the Country gets good managers, it cod be developed to become one of the richest among the 47 Counties country-wide. It has many natural resources lie minerals, fisheries, agriculture and untapped mineral resources such s lie, uranium and gold. Other potentialities included many pre-historic sites and tours attraction scenery.

And ever since Raila Odinga left the region, the rumor that is spreading like bush-fire is that Cyprian Otieno Awitiis the man to beat,

Ends