Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Rongo Town.
WHILE the people of South Mugirango constituency in Gucha South district have expressed the hope that their newly elected MP will deliver the goods to the electorate, they are, however, irked by unfolding events that followed last week polls.
The by-elections which show the resurgence of Simeon Nyachae led Ford Peoples party emerged with resounding victory over the Raila Odinga’s ODM and the little known People Democratic Party of Omingo Magara beaten hands down has left behind the trail of enmity and blame games.
ODM luminaries within the locality have pointed an accusing finger at one of the by-election losers whom they accused for an act of “betrayal”. Zebedeo Nyaboga the former Gucha Executive Secretary of KNUT who had earlier lost the by election to the retired head of secondary school teacher Ibrahim Ochoi is said to have alleged switched sides and sided with the Ford People party candidate Manson Oyongo Nyamweya, who later emerged the winner.
Nyaboga had voiced his concern that the party preliminary by-election was flawed and pre-determined in favor of the winner Ibrahim Ochoi. At the same, time other pundits blamed the ODM defeat for lack of the availability of election logistics. It is being alleged that a top ODM unnamed official from the party headquarters at the Orange House who was entrusted with election resources did not deliver it in time facilitate the party campaign to the top gear, and that the materials were delivered in half, and this is what slowed down the party’s campaign machinery.
Nyaboga departure and his dismay remarks questioning the party ability to hold a fair by-election nomination seemed to have worked for the downfall of the ODM at the eleventh hour.
Nyaboga’s departing message was clear. It was similar to the remarks made by the immediate former MP for the area Omingo9 Magara who had expressed his fears and suspicion that he doubted the ODM’s system of nomination. Nyaboga’s kicking departure could be rather insignificant, but taking into account that he ditched the ODM at the eleventh hour.
Senior ODM Minister Prof Nyong’o.Otieno Kajwang’, Chris Obure, Henry Kosgei,James Orengo and other had pitched camp in South Mugirango,for the whole duration of the campaign, but strangely thing they did is that the did not brought on board the Veteran ODM politician in Gusii region Zephania Mugunde Anyieni, the man who had a few months ago steered the party into victory in the neighboring Bomachoge.
Furthermore they ODM team dwelt into very many irrelevant issues that the electorate were not conversant with.
Manson Oyongo Nyamweya, the winner and the man who had petitioned the court and sent Omingo Magara parking had confined his campaign speeches to issues that were directly appealing to the electorate. He decried lack of tangible development on the ground despite Magara having represented the constituency for over seven years and begged the electorate to give him a chance so that they could see the difference within the next two years.
On the other hand, although Simeon Nyachae, the Kisii political kingpin who is now on semi retirement did not appear in any of Nyamweya’s campaign rallies, the message went round that he had sent his wife with the blessing for Nyamweya. His party Secretary General and a close confidant Henry Obwocha the former Panning Minister who is highly experienced in Gusii politics had permanently camped in South Mugirango.
The other grave mistake by ODM was sending its campaign team consisting mostly of Luo Ministers and MPs, and this gave credence to the damaging utterances by Omingo Magara that the ODM flag bearer Ibrahim Ochoi had Luo ancestral background and that the Prime Minister Raila Odinga was an expansionist who wanted to plant his kin on the Abagusii.
This is an area where the relationship between the two neighboring communities has always never been cordial due to other factors such as cattle rustling, tribal skirmishes perpetrated by the outlawed Chinkororo Militia groups”
But other local pundits had put up a strong argument that the ODM candidates ancestral background was irrelevant in the B y-election citing the example of the late Dr.Zachary T Onyonka who dominated Kitutu Chache politics for close to three decades was more of a Luo blood than Ibrahim Ochoi, and even today his son Richard M Onyonka is representing Kitutu Chache I n the current parliament.
What has puzzled many people in South Mugirango is the last week’s incident of torching a private academy school owned by Ibrahim Ochoi the loser of the by election by unknown arsonist. The Tabaka Hillcrest Academy was set ablaze on Friday 11th,June 2010. No one was hurt and the police in Gucha are said to be actively investigating the incident.
The accusing finger is being pointed at overzealous supporters of Omingo Magarawho is said to be bitter with Ochoi for having contributed immensely towards his election defeat by Nyamweya. Magara had earlier clai9med he had the blessing of Nyachae as the community, a claim which was fiercely denied by Henry Obwocha. But no one has ever come forward to connect Magara followers with the cowardice attack o9n Ochoi’s school.
However, what emerged in South Mugirango is that even the Higher Education Minister William Ruto popularity in the region is a matter of public conjecture. Ruto followed in the trail of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga tying all the tricks in the books to dismantle whatever Odinga had told the voters in vain.
And even the high profile campaign launched by PNU point man in Gusii Prof. Sam Ongeri. Despite the backing of the Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Uhuru Kenyatta and William Rutoand other KK and PNU luminaries could not work or moved the Omugusii, who seemed to have decided to go back to their own house the Ford People party.
Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com