Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Migori Town.
The much highlighted Luo-Kuria political marriage of convenience, which was brokered hastily and shortly before the March 4, 2013 general election specifically for the purpose of persuading the minority Kuria community to vote for the ODM leader Raila Odinga flopped disastrously.
The deal did not materialize as the Kuria voters in the region’s two parliamentary constituencies voted heavily for Raila’s arch-rival Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta.
The deal was the brain-child of the Minister for Public Works Dalmas Otieno and quite a good number of Luo MPs and the former Kuria MP Dr Wilfred Machage.
The arrangement was brokered during a series of night meetings held behind the closed doors of hotel rooms in some of the Nairobi’s posh hotels.
The details of the power-sharing deal was later was later passed on to Raila Odinga by Dalmas Otieno and his parliamentary colleagues who in turn r5eadily accepted the proposals contained therein it.
It apportioned all the elective positions within the Migori County governance to be shared by members of the Kuria minority and their Luo majority neighbors. But it didn’t take the interests of all the stakeholders into acco8unt.It also required wide consultation between the local ODM leaders on the ground, which didn’t happen.
Raila Odinga made quick hurriedly organized tour of Kuria a district and Migori town to drum up the proposals to the members of the public, and to coerce them to accept it.
Kuria community had two parliamentary seats , namely Kuria East with its headquarters at Kehanca,and Kuria west with its administrative headquarters at Mabera near Isebenia border town.. However, the Kuria voters turned out in full swing and voted for Uhuru Kenyatta’s jubilee alliance.The electorate turned hostile to Raila Odinga and voted Uhuru Kenyatta, even at Dr.Machage’s own home turf of Kehancha where Kenyatta got 14,000 votes. The trend was the same in Kuria West and other places.
What Raila Odinga appeared not to have adequately advised about the Kuria community was that Dr. Machage who had represented the area ever since 2002 was not a popular leader among the community. It happened when he was under heavy pressure and was about to be kicked out of the parliament.
In the much dissented deal, the Kuria community were given the lucrative position of Migori County governor, and also Migori women representative in Parliament, the County CEO.
Raila and his handlers were not bothered to inquire about more details of Dr. Machage’s status. On April 17, Dr Machage participatred in the ODM Primary nomination even before resigning his position as the PNU leader. He stood against the ODM stalwart John Magaiwa who had already campaigned for the same seat for a long period spaning two years. Other aspirants included Gilbert Ochieng’ Mbeo , the former Mathare MP, a two others MP for the larger Homa-Bay constituency Phares Ouoch Kanindo.
Magaiwa the populist local leader and a former Councilor Machage won the Senatorial seat on an ODM ticket. Magaiwa challenged Dr. Machage in the ODM Primary and came out the victor with 72,000against Dr Machage’s 51,000 votes. The ODM headquarter instead of issuing Magaiwa with nomination certificate gave it to Dr. Machage.
Dr Machage, however, failed to deliver the Kuria voters to Raila Odinga as promised. Those Luo MPs who supported the idea, have since been shown the exit door by the voters. They included former Uriri Mp Cyprian Ojwang’ Omolo, former Suna East MP John Pesa and Nyatike MP Edick Omondi Anyanga. And Dalmas Otieno. Only Otieno and Anyanga retained their parliamentary seats..
Prof. Edward Akong’Oyugi who contested the Migori governor position also lost his bid. He was defeated by one Zachary Okoth Obado a member of the Kenya Sugar Board representing Awendo zone.
Obado hails from Uriri and was denied his victory at the ODM Primary as a result of the nomination certificate being irregularly given to Prof. Oyugis.He contested on People Democratic Party of Omingo Magara party and won the governor position.
The whole exercises was the case of miscalculation and underestimation of the intelligence of the voters in Migori
Ends