Political News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town

ANY legislator from Luo-Nyanza in the 10th Parliament who is contemplating the possibility of abandoning his parliamentary seat in preference of running for any of the four Counties Senate seats would live to regret as the electorate have vowed not to entertain such a move.

The MPS from this region have been told to defend their seat and reap the seeds they sowed as the result of their individual performance in the August house. They should give the community the space to breathe fresh air and give the four chances which have been availed in the new constitution to others.

A survey conducted in the past week by this writer has revealed that they community will vote for some of the hard working MPs who have been so productive in their respective constituencies. The electorate would consider those who intend to abandon their parliamentary seats in preference to the Senate seats as failures and they would be shown the exit door in the 2012.

This is the reaction of the electorate in most part of Luo-Nyanza following the recent publication of stories in a section of the media houses to the effect that some of the Legislator in the current parliament were considering the possibility of seeking for election in the Upper House, and as such were contemplating the idea abandoning their seats in the Lower House for the more covenant Senate representation.

A number of names of the present MPs respecting various constituencies across the Luo land have been mentioned as those considering the possibility of running for Senate seats instead of defending their present seats in the August House.

Among the legislators whose names are making the round as those considering the possibility of running for the Senate seats instead of defending their present seats in the current parliament include Dr. Oburu Oginga {Bondo} Dalmas Otieno {Rongo} Prof Anyang” Nyong’o {Kisumu Rural}, John OLago Aluoch {Kisumu Township West}

The majority of the electorate considers such a move as greediness. The MPs should stick to their guns and defend the seeds of fruits they have sowed in the August House, because running for the Senate seats and abandoning the electorate would amount to abdicating from their responsibilities. Moreover there are better politicians in the region in excess, and who should also be given chance to try their luck in the Senate.

“If an MP has failed to deliver the goods to his constituents while representing them the people even if he was to be elected in Senate,” said Eng Phillip Makabong’o a Rongo politician, adding that the new constitution should usher in the sprit of “One Man One Job”.

Makabong’o who contested the Rongo Parliamentary seat in 2007 on ODM ticket, but abandoned his candidature before the party primaries to become the chief campaigner for the incumbent Dalmas Otieno also insists that those elected to Parliament or Senate should not be allowed to contest party offices at the branches levels. They should give those chances to others who want to lead their communities to do so and stick to their parliamentary duties.”

“It will be the time for the sitting MPs to reap the fruits of their sweats, but to those who have performed dismally would be required to account for their work before being reconsidered for the re-election. We expect the Senate to be an important institution of good governance, but to not the haven or hideout for failures. “says a Ksumu Town veteran politician John Bruno Oloo

In Ukwala, a registered voter in Ugenya constituency Mr.James Oduor told this writer that the electorate in area still in ardent need of the services of their MP James Aggrey Orengo whose sterling performance is greatly admired by the electorate. We still need him in Parliament, and therefore he should not allow some irresponsible political brokers to succeed in persuading him to abandon his seat.

The common saying in the entire Luo-Nyanza is that those current and past MPS who are known to have collaborated with others in vandalizing the revolving funds made available to their respective constituencies for socio-economic and infrastructure development should not be allowed to ump the ship before adequately accounting for the money.

People are unanimous in the entire region that these gentlemen of Parliament must be forced by the sponsoring political parties to account for the government revolving funds before being allow to shift goals from{Parliament to the Senate. this way taxpayers millions of shilling would be lost.

Those MPs who are currently said considering the options of switching from contesting the next general election in defense of their present parliamentary seats would be most welcome, but the one who are contemplating the idea or running away from their responsibility before adequately accounting for the CDF money would run into a lot of difficulties with the electorate in this region. It is being alleged that some of the MPs have turned out themselves to be the contractors or the suppliers of the hardware material used in the construction of CDF funded projects in their respective constituencies or are known to be using relatives, friends and proxies in the exercises the purpose of tapping the government availed resources.

Such scams could be seen in the escalating prices of the materials used in the construction of CDF funded projects in most of the rural constituencies inside Luo-Nyanza. Some of the current MP, it is further being alleged had borrowed millions of shillings from traders for their campaign kitties in 2007 and are repaying back their debts by insisting that the same creditors be given tenders for the supplies of materials used in the constructed of CDF funded projects in their respective constituencies at the escalated prices to replenish their debts. This has of late become the thorniest issues between CDF managers, local committees and the MPs. Some of the legislators, it is further being alleged further, had borrowed monies in forms of building materials, which they used in making hefty donations of the same borrowed materials to the various projects such schools, health centers, women groups and churches to popularize themselves with the electorate on promises that the traders would recover their monies by being awarded lucrative tenders of supplying construction materials to the CDF.

This has been the subjects of conflicts of interests whch has seen some MPOs disbanding or dismissing the entire CDF local committees. In most cases only appointing some of their political cronies, semi-illiterate relatives and friends who immediately turns out to be the easiest targets of manipulations.

Meanwhile the news analysis about the possible contenders for the four Senate seats which are allocated the four regional Counties in Luo-Nyanza by the new constitution has provoked sharp reaction from certain quarters.

It has also brought to the surface new more name of the would be aspirants and their foes. In Kisumu, the former Nyando MP Eng Eric Opon Nyamunga who was earlier reported to be one of the possible contestants is reported to have bowed out of the Senate race in favor of Eng.Maxwell Otieno Odongo, a prominent businessman in Kisumu and Nairobi. Nyamunga could not be reached by phone to confirm or deny the rumor.

At the same time the candidature of Cyprian Otieno Awiti, the for former Country Director of Marrie Stoppie Clinics in Kenya and African region appeared to be the most welcome in Homa-Bay County.

A good number of the MPs from the region interviewed by this writers have confirmed that they would prefer working with Awiti who they highly praised as development conscious leaders who has donated millions of shillings in supports of socio-projects in the region in the past without considering the constituencies boundaries..

Awitiis not only popular in his home turf of Rachuonyo Northand Rachuonyo South constituencies, but extended to other regions like Suba, where he is the darling of the electorate in both Gwassi and Mbita constituencies and in Ndhiwa where he is said to be having good rapport with the incumbent MP Joshua Orwa Ojode. He has conducted numerous high profile Harambee fund drive in Ndhiwa in aid of the school and churches.

Other names being floated as possible candidates for the same Senate seat include that of immediate former Gwassi MP Zadock Syong’o who is said to be keen inmaking political come back after staying in the cold ever since he lost the Gwassi seat in 2007 general election to a newcomer John Mbadi.

Another new name that is making the round is that of the former long serving Principal of Kanga High School, Mr Samuel Kaunda Ogweno. His name is coming out strongly from Gwassi Constituency his home turf. Kauda s the current Principal of Sawagongo High School In Gem constituency, which within only one year and using his professional and administrative prowess has quickly turned around the school which was hitherto run down to be one of the best schools in the region.

The electorate in Gwassi sis they would back Kaunda for either Senate or Parliament if he chose to stand so that they could exploit to the maximum his proven administrative ability that had seen Kanga taking the lead in national exam of other schools in the region for ten consecutive years in.

When approached Kaunda who hails from Kakisingiri sub-clan in Gwassi constituency and is said to be having a lot of influence in the constituency declined to offer any comment, only saying he was currently busy teaching his student at Sawagongo to the best of his ability and would not comment on what the people says in the locality. He, however, promised to respond at an appropriate time.

In Bondo, the former Foreign Affairs Minister Raphael Tuju’s name has also re-surfaced as one of those who would be vying for the Siaya Senate seat, though the former Minister is likely toru into trouble with the ODM supporters in this a region which is considered as the stronghold of the party which is led by the Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, the man who Tuju once rubbed shoulders with the wrong way.

The name of the current Bondo MP Dr, Oburu Odinga is also being floated for the same seat, and so is the name of Prof. William Ochieng’ the former Principal of Maseno University College, and former Chief Engineer {Roads} Eng. David Maganda, is now a prominent businessman in both Kisumu and Nairobi.

The common talks among the Luos is that those MPs in the current parliament who have the record of sterling performance such as Oyugi Magwanga {Kasipul Kabondo} John Pesa{Migori}, Joshua Orwa Ojode {Ndhiwa}, Jakoroyo Midowo {Gem}, Jamsd Orengo {Ugenya} Eng Jasmesd Rege {Karachuonmyo}, Otieno Kajwang” {Mbita} Pyllins Ochieng’ Daima {Nyakach} Edick Omondi Anyanga {Nyatike} and Dr. Oburu Odinga { Bondo} should be returned to parliament to continue with their good work for the job well done..

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com