From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2013
While voting trend in Kenya demonstrated the entrenchment of tribalised and party politics in the elections since Independence, with just concluded primary party nominations marred with massive rigging and favouratism, leading to major defections to other parties, it is an indication that Kenya is overcoming political tribalism, regionalism and favouratism.
In Siaya County where Mr William Oduol was openly denied ODM certificate in favour of Dr Oburu Odinga, and now to unknown aspirant, Colonel Rasanga, there is high chances that Siaya voters will be forced to vote in Oduol as their Governor with National Agenda Party of Kenya (Nap-K) ticket.
Mr Oduol’s move follows the botched ODM primaries at the county, which subsequently led to cancellation of the results by the party’s National Executive Board. He was the key rival to immediate former Bondo MP Oburu Oginga who the Siaya voters rejected on allegations that he was rigged in by the top party brass.
Mr Oduol was issued a certificate by Nap-K on January 18, and therefore he did not expect to be disqualified by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). He is among aspirants from Nyanza, locked out by ODM, who have secured the National Agenda Party of Kenya (NAP-K) ticket come March 4 General Elections.
Another aspirant granted the party’s ticket is Gilbert Warm who would be challenging Lands Minister James Orengo for the Siaya Senatorial seat, even though with Orengo there was no dispute.
Many aspirants who felt were rigged off in Luo Nyanza have so far joined Vice President Kalozo Musyoka’s Wiper and United Democratic Front party which according to media report has recorded the highest defections of the aspirants from Nyanza, Western, and Coast provinces who defected to Wiper and Ford Kenya respectively.
Apart from Nyanza and Western, in Mombasa, former Kisauni MP Hassan Joho faces stiff competition from another Cord member Suleiman Shahbal who is running on a Wiper ticket for governorship. For senate, Suleiman Shakombo of ODM will battle it out with Omar Hassan of Wiper, who quit the Orange party citing favouritism.
In Jomvu, Environment assistant minister Ramadhan Kajemba’s son, Seif Kajembe (ODM) will face Wiper candidate Badi Twalib who decamped after losing in the Orange party primaries, where as in Nyali, the contest is between Mombasa businessman Hezron Awiti Bolo (Wiper) and former deputy mayor John Mcharo (ODM).
Former unregistered Islamic Party of Kenya chairman Omar Mwinyi (ODM) will battle it out with Mr Philip Ndolo (Wiper) for the Changamwe seat, while in Taita Taveta, the contest for governorship will be lost and won in Cord, with Mr John Mruttu (ODM), Ms Jacinta Mwatela (Wiper) and Sophy Kibai (Ford Kenya) seeking the seat according to media report.
While in Kisumu West constituency, former MP Olago Aluoch defected to Ford Kenya where he will contest the seat against ODM’s Rosa Buyu who was handed the ticket, in the newly created Kisumu Central, Mr Abdul Omar will run on a Ford Kenya after claiming his victory was stolen and given to Mr Ken Obura.
In Nyando where voters protested angrily on rumors that former MP Fred Outa was rigged in by ODN top brass, he will square it out with Mr Jared Okello, the Nyando voters’ choice. Okello defected to Ford Kenya.
And in Homa Bay County where majority of voters feel that Otieno Kajwang would not be awarded ODM certificate in the first place to vie for senate seat, his big challenger is going to be Mr Hillary Alila, who lost the ODM nominations. Alila will vie on a PDP ticket.
And in Kisii where Public Works Minister Chris Obure (ODM), Mr Omingo Magara (PDP) and Mr Raphael Raini (Ford Kenya) will fight for the senate seat, the chances are that ODM might lose.
ODM might also lose it to Ms Bridgit Ombati (PDP) who is battling it out with Ms Mary Sally Otara (ODM) for Kisii women representative slot. Similar case my apply to Foreign Affairs assistant minister Richard Onyonka of ODM, Mr Don Bosco Gichana (PDP) and Anthony Kibagendi of (PPK) are all seeking the Kitutu Chache seat.
While Jubilee coalition is also facing the same challenge in Bomachoge Chache where Mr Fred Mititi (URP) and Mr Amos Nyamoko (TNA) want the seat, in Kakamega, former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo (FPK) and university lecturer Shanyisa Khasiani (ODM) are vying for senate within the Cord coalition.
Even though Amani coalition is not very strong, the fact that assistant minister Manyala Keya will defend the Lurambi seat on New Ford Kenya ticket after he lost UDF nominations to Bishop Titus Khamala, chances are that Khamala might be the victor come March 4 general elections.
This may also happen to Housing Minister Soita Shitanda who is vying for the Kakamega govenor post on a New Ford Kenya ticket after he was disqualified by UDF on academic grounds. UDF picked Mr Paul Olando who is likely to be the victor.
Other challenges according to the report is between businessman Julius Asira who is vying for the Butere seat on a Ford Kenya ticket and Mr Andrew Toboso who beat former Cabinet minister Amukoa Anangwe in the nominations and will vie on the ODM ticket. Prof Anangwe according to report may vie on an FPK ticket.
The same will apply in Malava constituency where Mr George Munji who lost to Said Khasabuli in UDF primaries decamped to Kanu, a key partner in the Amani coalition led by Mr Musalia Mudavadi.
While Mr John Shimaka who was also floored in the UDF nominations decamped to Wiper party and will battle it out with ODM’s Musavin Zakaya Nambwa, Cord faces another headache in Busia County where Mr Sospeter Ojaamong (ODM) and Mr Philemon Imo of Ford Kenya are all going for the governor’s seat.
In Busia former Attorney-General Amos Wako (ODM) will face it off with former Nambale MP Chris Okemo of Ford Kenya for senate post (Sources Daily Nation).
Another indication that Kenya is to over power tribal politics is the fact that judges now have the power to preside over election petitions after the March 4 General Elections. Unlike before, now they will have powers to declare a winner after a recount of ballot papers in court. This follows an amendment of judicial rules that also give similar powers to magistrates.
At least 10 outgoing MPs were rejected by voters, resulting to chaos. The outgoing MPs who lost in the nominations as rejected by voters were assistant minister Calist Mwatela (Mwatate), Jakoyo Midiwo (Gem), David Were (Matungu), Isaac Muoki (Kitui South), Evans Akula (Khwisero), Victor Munyaka (Machakos Town), Erastus Mureithi (Ol Kalou), Daniel Mwoki (Mwala), David Koech (Mosop) and Itwiku Mbai (Masinga).
Other notable losers were former minister Mutua Katuku (Machakos, governor), former envoy to South Africa Tabitha Seii (Elgeyo-Marakwet, senate), former President Kibaki’s bodyguard Col (Rtd) Geoffrey Muturi (Mbeere South), and former Central Bank of Kenya deputy governor Jacinta Mwatela (Taita Taveta, governor).
Others include Mr Mwatela, the Education assistant minister, when he lost ODM’s Mwatate parliamentary seat ticket to Mr Andrew Mwadime and his wife, Jacinta Mwatela, lost the race for governor’s seat in Taita Taveta.
Mrs Mwatela, lost the ODM ticket for governor’s seat to former Kenya Petroleum Refineries Limited general manager John Mruttu. Mr Mruttu garnered 19,080 votes against Mrs Mwatela’s 16,503.
Even though in Gem Mr Midiwo secured 7,109 votes against Mr Elisha Odhiambo Ochieng’s 12,124, he was secretaly issued with ODM certificate to vie for the seat. Mr Midiwo is a cousin of Mr Odinga.
While in Nyakach, Mr Ochieng lost to Mr Owuor Aduma, who had resigned as Nairobi City Council’s legal officer. Mr Aduma garnered 12,562 votes against Mr Ochieng’s 6,241, in Ol Kalou, Mr Mureithi fled TNA when he discovered that his photo was missing on the ballot box. He has since joined Agano party.
Political wind is also expected to clean Nairobi where former Town Clerk Philip Kisia who launched his campaign for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat a year ago and who was hoping to be the ODM candidate dramatically ditched the party to Federal Party of Kenya after Evans Kidero was favoured by ODM top brass for governor seat.
The same is in Mombasa where an ardent ODM and Raila supporter, former vice-chair of the Kenya National Commission for Human Rights Hassan Omar Hassan also quit the party for Wiper. He said his conscience would not allow him to continue supporting the candidacy of Ali Hassan Joho who is the party’s Mombasa gubernatorial candidate as he had issues with the latter’s integrity.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
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Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002