News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisii Town.
The recently active participation in the just concluded by election in Nyaribari Chache by members of the “Nyandusi family” has spelt the looming signal of dooms and the end of CORD / ODM influence in Kisii region.
This is the family of the late Ex-Senior Chief Musa Nyandusi Ayacko who had ruled the entire Nyaribari Location with an iron fist for close to 30 years ever since 1930s, but still highly respected for what the former Chief did to the community in terms of introduction of modern agriculture, modern education, and massive development.
He was the father of the former cabinet Minster Simeon Nyachae, the former cabinet Minister, and the most abrasive politician. Nyachae is the founder of the Ford Peoples party, which once ruled supreme in Gusii region between 2002 and 2007. He has since retired from active politics, but his influence in the Gusii region remained intact to date.
Members of thus family brushed aside clan’s politics which usually dominate Kisii politics and vigorously campaigned for the winner Richard Tongi from the minority Boguche clan.
The Nyandusi family belonged to Abanyamasicho, which is part of a group of the amalgamated eight sub-clans called “The Kambanane”. This group boosts the voting strength which is in excess of 30,000 registered voters in Nyaribari Chache.
The ODM/CORD also got a big thrashing in Bomachoge Borabu by – election where the Jubilee’s Joel Onyancha beat its candidate Peter Kimori hands down.
ODM Leader Raila Odinga and other party luminaries campaigned for their candidates in both constituencies, but it ended in total disappointment.
However, the party mostly blamed its usually flawed and poorly managed skewed nomination system. The party adamantly ignored the plea by voters in Gusii who had demanded that the party should conduct preliminary nomination exercises to enable the voters to send up the most popular candidate. ODM instead came up with hand-picked candidates named from its Orange House head office in Nairobi, understandably due to the ever present of many brokers and tried to impose them on the Kisii voters.
It should be remembered that the ODM lost close to 10 parliamentary seats, which were considered very safe in its stronghold electoral areas. in Western Kenya to its competitors during the March 4,2013. It lost the following seats which include Kuria East, Kuria West, Teso North and Teso South. Also lost were parliamentary constituencies in Luo-Nyanza of Alego/Usonga, Muhoroni, Kisumu Town West, Awendo and Migori governor position seat went to Omingo Magara’s little known People Democratic Party {PDP} whose tickets were also used by Migori governor Zachary Okoth Obado and the Awendo MP Jared Kopiyo.
The most intriguing aspect of the recent by elections in Kisii only two party MPs supported ODM candidates. These were Richard Onyonka [Kitutu Chache South and Simon Ogari [Bomachoge Chache. and T.Bosire of Kitutu Masaba. The South Mugirango MP Manson Oyongo Nyamweya openly threw his weight behind Tongi who contested by Nyaribari Chache seat on Ford People party ticket thus attracting the backing of the mighty Nyachae family.
The CORD/ODM coalition, however, is still counting on the support of its few left stalwarts like Senator Chris Mogere obure, Nominated Senator Janet Ongera, Kisii governor James Ongwae and his Deputy Joash Maangi abd Women Representative Anne Otaraand several Ward Representatives. However, the gong appeared to be hard on the Raila Odinga party, which had ruled supreme in Gusii between 2007 and 2013 bagging nearly all the parliamentary seats. In Kisii and Nyamira Counties. The party should rebrand itself and strategize for 2017 general election. It must go back to the drawing board and usher in the necessary reforms in its electoral nomination system by avoiding many political brokers and hirelings.
There is clear evidence that many people in Gusii land now prefer the Jubilee coalition and the party of President Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto should expect a great influx of people migrating from ODM to the Jubilee within the next few months.
Opinion leaders in Gusiiland, however, are saying the are not happy with the recent appointment of parastatal chiefs by President Uhuru Kenyatta whguch excluded Prof. Sanm K. Ongeri the former Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation during the defunct PNU/ODM coalition Ongeri the most astute and dynamic politician who is arguably the most experience leader in the region has yet to be given any appointment despite having campaigned vigorously for the Jubilee coalition.
Ends