Report By Leo Odera Omolo In Awendo Town.

The campaign for the vacant South Mugirango parliamentary seat hit the trail over the weekend with eleven of the candidates moving in home to home, village to village in an intensified canvassing for votes.

Bu the aspirants are experiencing a lot of difficulties trying to explain their stands on the on-going Yes and No campaign for the referendum voting for the new draft constitution document.

The voters are becoming increasingly agitated and asking the aspirants to declare their stands on the draft constitution. Some of the aspirants have successfully avoided direct answer to the question insisting that direction on the issue would come from their parties of sponsors.

By Saturday evening, only two aspirants had come out bold enough and told their supporters they were firm in YES campaign camp. Others were said to be still gauging their options and would make their opposition known within days.

The two are Ibrahim Ochoi of the ODM and Ezekiel Okeng’o of the Narc Kenya. By evading to be associated themselves with the two symbols on the on going referendum votes campaign for the draft constitution this is likely to play against some aspirants owing to the already established fact that the majority of the electorate in South Mugirango are supporting the YES camp.

The by-election campaign has also exposed the deeply rooted division and split within the party of independent KANU

KANU Flag bearer had his nomination papers rejected by the IIEC on thre ground that it bears no signature of the party national chairman Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta. The papers had only one signature that loft hr party’s Secretary-General Nick Salat. But after some consultations between the IIUEC men on the ground and the headquarters in Nairobi, Mr Ondora’s papers were finally accepted and he was declared duly nominated to contest the by-election along side with other aspirants.

KANU torch bearer in Gusii region Prof Sam K.Ongeri was nowhere to be seen and it is understood to be backing Omingo Magara. Uhuru Kenyatta, the party leader is also reported to be one of Omingo Magara’s key backers. The incident has portrayed KANU as a seriously divided house.

Magara whose election on an ODM ticket in 2007was quashed by a Kisii High Court Justice Masinga, who cited irregularities is also reported to be enjoying the backing of the Vice President S Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka and the Minister for Higher Education William Ruto, Minister for Special Program Dr Naomi Shaban and other PNU key figures. He ditched the ODM last month and sought for nomination on the ticket of the little known PDP cited bad leadership and policy in his former party, which he had served as its national treasurer.

Magara has, however, cunningly avoided directing his criticism to the party leader Raila Odinga, the Prime Minister whom he referred to as his personal friend and had nothing sinister against him {Raila} personally.

The eleven candidates are said to be men of substantial means and good educational background. They have chosen the path of conducting their own campaign activities individual and are likely to avoid the idea of sharing platform at public rallies on fears this could ignite hostility and violence.

But last Friday Manson Oyongo Nyamweya, the man who had successfully petitioned the high court against Magara’s election in 2007hit the campaign trail when he addressed a series of meetings at Nyachenge, Nyabigenge, Tabaka and Keburunga areas. These areas are considered Omingo Magara’s stronghold. These centers are located in the heart of Magara’s Bosinange sub-clan.

Nyamweya who is contesting the by-election on the ticket of Ford Peoples party pleaded weith the electorate to give him a chance for the remaining two years in parliament. He assured them of offering them different style of political leadership

It was not clear by the weekend whether Nyamweya’s party boss Simeon Nyachae would visit South Mugirango to drum up support for his party candidate. Nyachae is highly respected in the entire Gusii region and his voice counts a lot.

Ibrahim Ochoi the populist ODM candidate said his campaign would be launched later this week when the party big-wigs are expected to pitch campaigns the area. Those party leaders expected to visit South Mugirango include thre party national chairman Henry Kosgei, who is thre Minister for Industrialization, Minister for Works Chris Mogere Obure, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Richard Onyonka, ODM Director of Operations Ms Janet Ong’era, Minister for Lands James Aggrey Orengo, Minister for Roads Franklin Bett, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Fisheries Minister Paul Nyongesa Otuoma, Minister for Medical Services Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o who is the ODM Secretary-General, ODM MPS from Gusii Kisii and Southern Nyanza regions.

The Prime Minister Raila Odinga is also expected in South Mugirango where he would address a series of campaign rallies to boost his party candidate Ibrahim Ochoi.Raila’s visit is crucial, though his party seemed to have a upper hand in the campaign, many issues still stands unresolved, which would require his physical presence.

Nicholas Biwott’s Vision party candidate Abaga Sagero, who was reportedly assaulted at a fund drive meeting at Tabaka Township School two weeks ago has said he is not pursuing the matter further with the police. Sagero said he had forgiven Magara and his supporter’s who beat him up. Instead he is concentrating his time in intensifying his campaign.

The Gucha South district Geoffrey Muyama said the administration would provide each of the eleven candidates with security whenever they request for it during their public rallies. So far the aspirants and their supporters have conducted themselves very well maintaining peace and tranquility in the area.

Other contestants in the race are Rashind Miyonga {PPK} John Joshua Ondora {KANU}, Ezekiel Okeng’o {Nar-Kenya} Robert Mbaka {Safina} Master Bw’Ondora{KSC}, Ezekiel Okemwa {KENDA} Joash Kengere {Labour Party of Kenya}.

Most candidates have resorted to door-to-door campaign while most of aspirants have retreated back to Nairobi after presenting their papers last Monday and Tuesday at the Nyamarambe Center. Their paper were accepted by Mr Boneventure Bongoy of the IIEC

Issues likely to dominate the campaign include bad roads, poor state of schools, alleged misuse of CDF revolving money by the previous incumbent, insecurity, cattle rustling, poor return for both sugar cane and tea farmers, rapidly dropping education standards, poor infrastructure such as roads and communications system.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com