MOHAMMED JUNET FACES ELECTION DILEMA IN 2017 IN MIGORI
News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Migori Town.

The next bilection campaign battle in Suna East constituency is expected to be the touch stone of the entire Southern Nyaza region. THe constituency is a cosmopolitan in the true sense of the word. The residents are people of mixture tribal background.

He Luos are arguably the majority,but other In ethnic groups such as Luyhias, Maragolis, Kisiis and Somalis makes this electoral area a true cosmopolitan in the real sense of the word.

The incumbent MP is the controversial and outspoken Mohammed Junet, a man of Somali origin whose leadership style appeared to have been weaken by his links with political goons and hirelings. The MP who has been bragging to be the eyes and ears of the ODM and CORD leader Raila Odinga in Migori is full of political antics and gimmicks, which has so far made his popularity to wane as fast as he had won the seat in 2013 elections..

The residents accused the MP of being fond of making political rhetoric in Nairobi, but doing absolutely nothing tangible in helping the electorate overcome myriads of problem at the constituency level. On several occassions the youthful legislator has been in brawls in public, and even at one time wrestling with his perceived opponents while scrambling for microphone or address system before the huge crowd of mourners.

The man who is giving Junet sleepless is Patrick Odipo a business magnate in Migoritown who is running chain of businesses including transport and estate agency. Odipom hails from Suna Kadika in Wasweta East in Suba East Division of Migori district. Is a member of the indigenous Jo-Suna sub-clan

Another Junet’s challenger is Hezron Ondigo who is a Maragoli. His parents are living in Uriri sub-County also withi Migori , but he lives in Kakirao area. He is a former school teacher-turned businessman.

During last week burial of a retired teacher the late Angira Angira, at Nyabisawa village, it was Ondigo who turned the heat on MP Junet when he bravely challenged as the legislator to account for what he has done to to his constituents ever since he was voted into parliament two and half years ago.

His sentiments infuriated the MP prompting him to grab and switched off the micraphone as the hundreds of mourners chanted “Junet Must Go”. Sensing the danger the priest conducting the burial prayers moved in and grabbed the microphone and took it to the graveside. He then asked the mourners to move to the graveside and to leave the brawling politicians to fight on.

It was one of Junet’s opponent Patrick Odipo who calmed the situatiion and saved it from getting worse as youths supporting the waring parties were getting ready for a fight, while many mourners scampered and fled the funeral home for their safety.

Suna East is one of the richest constituencies in Migori County. The County has seven parliamentary constituencies, namely Rongo, Awendo, Nyatike, Uriri,una East, Suna West, Kuria East and Kuria West. Its economic dynamic are minerals, highly valued cash crops, which included Tobacco and Sugar cane residents of the lower parts like Nyatike and parts of Uriri sub county, but he is a resident of Kakirao on the Suna-East constituencysde.

Speaking to this writer in his Migori townm Oatric Odipo said that every generation in this country faces unique challenges. Obkthuiatory is able to judge how well they respond to it. Many residents of Suna East were raised in the context where underdevelopment and poverty were pervasive.

Odipo said, “almost every year we faces unique hard economic times. THe population in the area comprises of majority with only primary education or “O” level school dropouts with many seeking manual jobs. Their parents are left to the mercy of nature as they deliver far from the safety of hospitals.

The business tycoon went on saying, ”there is leadership, apathy and the Suna East residents must now question the circumstances and demand leadership to account for their responsibilities and resources utilization.

He added, “changing the course of history is never easy task and only the brave and committed men like myself, he said adding that there will always be some elements of antics who will say how it cannot be done and give million reasons as to to why it would be possible to achieve this. If men listen to them we would have not set foot on the mont, Odipo said philosophically., adding we “We would only pride ourselves for having walked to the next village. The great leaders not not only ask the question why but also why not.

HE said the electorate I Sua East constituency have asked him to rise up and lead them to the next level of development, and in response to the numrous requests he has accepted the challenge and decided to change the course of the constituency’s development trajectory.

Odipo said he was sure of besting the incumbent legislator and his mai agenda would be to create the wealth. He intend to launch wealth creation programme which will transform Suba East into the hub wealth and business activities to be envious to other constituencies in the region. The area lacked fresh water for heath and sanitation. It needs serious youth economic empowerment programme, major healthcare programs, introduction of new method and technology in agriculture, increase in livestock, especially graded dairy cows to increase milk output.

SUNA East constituency is partly in Migori town which it shared equally with Suna West constituency. The town’s proximity to border trades makes it a major hub for business acclivities that attract customers and business people from across the Kenya-Tanzania border

He said the current MP has been sleeping on the job. He lacked commitment to poverty eradication and has been threatening the electorate while using the name the CORD leader Raila Odinga as his protector, and his performance is lukewarm. His performance is dismal and reads zero.

Ends