News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.
WITH only three weeks to go before the referendum voting for the proposed constitution, a new political dimension has emerged in various parts of Western Kenya.
There is some element of complacency and laxity on the parts of Luo MPs. from-Nyanza Province an area which is perceived to be one of the stronghold of the Orange Democratic Movement {ODM} whose leader is the Prime Minister Raila Odinga who together with President Mwai Kibaki are known to be in the forefront championing the Yes campaign.
The campaign aimed at drumming up the support or against the proposed law reform is yet to kick off in earnest in many parts of Western Kenya,especially in Luo-Nyanza in the same fashion it has hit the roads in the South and North Rift and in some parts of Western Province.
The Yes campaign in Gusii region of Nyanza Province has also hit snag owing to what seemed to be irreconcilable political differences between the two cabinet ministers. Education Minister Prof Sam K Ongeri and his counterpart Works Minister Chris Mogere Obure are both in the Greens Camp, but the two are not in talking terms, a political scenario, which is likely to weaken the Yes camp campaign in the region and possibly benefit the Nyachae led Reds Camp.
The differences between the two senior most politicians in Kisii region recently resurfaced during the just concluded by-election in South Mugirango. In the by election Ongeri abandoned his KANU candidate and backed the immediate former area MP Omingo Magara who stood on the ticket of the hitherto unknown Peoples Democratic Party {PDP},while Obure supported the ODM candidate Ibrahim Ochoi. But both the aspirants lost to a low profiled candidate Manson Oyongo Nyamweya, of the Ford People.
In the by-election Nyachae steered clear of the by-election, but his right hand man Henry Obwocha a former Planning Minister had camped and spear-headed the campaign in South Mugirango during the whole duration of the by-election. In the previous by election in the neighboring Bomachoge, Obure campaigned for the ODM candidate Simon Ogari who eventually won, while Ongeri supported the PNU candidate Joel Onyancha who lost in the by-election.
Other MPs from Gusii region are only showing cosmetic support to either Yes or No proponents and the voters are left guessing as to which way they should cast their votes.
In Luo-Nyanza, which is arguably the region’s political hot-bed, the majority of the MPs have gone silent. Only a few of them have been reported to have organized public rallies to drum up the public support the Yes camp.
They included Oyugi Magwanga [Kasipula-Kabondo}, Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ {Mbita}Dr. Oburu Oginga [Bondo}, Eng.James Rege{Karachuonyo} Prof Ayiecho Lueny {Muhoroni},Jakoyo Midiwo {Gem} James Orengo {Ugenya},John Olago Aluoch {Kisumu Town West}Prof. Anyanh’Nyong’o {Kisumu Rural and Dick Omoindi Anyanga of Nyatike.
Luo MPs who are said to have gone underground not to be heard speaking in favor or against the proposed constitution include Otieno Ogindo {Rangwe}, Cyprian Ojwang’Omolo {Uriri} Eng. Nicholas Gumbo {Rarieda} Edwing Ochieng’ Yinda {Alego-Usonga} Polins Ochieng Daima {Nyakach},John