Political Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The battle for political supremacy within the six counties created by the new constitution in what used to be the old Nyanza Province has began in earnest, and this time around more women contestants are expected to outstrip the number of their male counterparts.

This six counties to be established include Siaya, Kisumu Nyamira, Homa-Bay,Kisii and Migori. Already the talks that has filled the air is that the electorate would rather prefer more women to be in the race for the various positions like Senate, Parliament, County Governors and local assemblies.

Geographically, the County of Homa-Bay will be largest, though sparsely populated in some parts. It will stretch all the way from Kabondo Division and winds up on Mfangano Island in Mbita and also coverers small fishing islands scattered all over Lake Victoria on the Kenyan side of the country’s border with Uganda.

This is to be followed by the Migori County. This will be a unique administrative area which will include people of diverse communal interests. It will include the majority Luos and minority Kuria and Suba communities grouped together under one administrative unit.

The most densely populated will be the Counties of Nyamira and that of Kisii in the Gusii region with County of Kisii having the lion’s share in both geographically and population wise.It will cover seven parliamentary constituencies of Nyaribari Chache, Nyaribari Masaba, Bonchari, Bobasi, Bomachoge ,Kitutu Chache and South Migirango, while Nyamira County will administer four parliamentary constituencies of Mugirango West, Kitutu Masaba and North Mugirango Borabu.

Already sharp differences in public opinion has emerged as regards the kind of women personalities who should represent their respective countries in the tri-cameral legislative system. The popular feeling is that old and mature women with proven leadership quality.

The youths says they are in favor of the young technocrats, while the older generation would like to see the old timers likes Grace Onyango, {Kisumu} Grace Ogot {Gem},Wilkister Onsando [Bomachoge},Catherine Nyamato {Mugirango West},Dr Phoebe Muga Asiyo {Karachuonyo},Mrs Damaris Ayodo {Kasipul-Kabondo} Mrs Roselyn Onyuka {Kasipul Kabondo, Mrs Janbe Were {Ndhiwa] Mrs Consilata Yambo,alias Nyaseme {Gwassi], Prisca Auma {Kisumu}, Eunice Arodi {Kisumu} and others.

The saying goes that these are the mature ladies whose leadership qualities have already been proven when their served either as Maendeleo Ya Wanawake, civic bodies, and Parliament as well as in the community services in the past.

However, the older generation of women leaders will have to cope up with the strong challenge from the younger generation, most of whom are technocrats and professionals.

The County of Homa-Bay has already attracted more than half a dozen women leaders. They include the outspoken firebrand Ms Millie Odhiambo, the ODM nominated MP who has proved she to be a great debaters in the House and knowledgeable on wide range of local and international issues affecting the Kenyan nation.

Odhiambo’s name is selling well in both Suba and Karachuonyo regions. In her own Suba backyard, she is likely to face it up with another technocrat lady in the name of Consilata Yambo,alias Nyaseme from Gwassi, who works with the Israeli national El-Al as an executive in Nairobi.

The same Senate seat is said to have attracted the former Director of Education in Nyanza Mrs Roselyn Onyuka who has served the region as the headmistress of the various girls secondary schools, AEO, DEO and later PDE before being promoted to the Ministry’s headquarters from where she retired a couple of years ago. She hails from West Kasipul Location in Oyugis Division of the Rachuonyo South district. Both Odhiambo and Onyuka belonged to families of prominent leaders.

Miss Odhiambo’s late father Harrison Odhiambo Opiyo was for many years associated with South Nyanza KANU politics. He took an active art during the struggle for independent and was reward with by the party {KANU} which sponsored him as its candidate in Lambwe Ward in the defunct Nyanza Regional Assembly, which he won and represented up to the year 1966 when the cumbersome Majimbo constitution was crap and abolished. Onyuka grew up in the chain of chieftainship family. Her Father the late Ex-Senior Chief Damianus Ajwang” was himself was the son of the second colonial location Chief Adiang’.

However, things could change dramatically if the influential former Karachuonyo0 MP Mrs Phoebe Muga Asiyo. Although she is living on semi-retirement her popularity remained intact, and she is an household name in the greater Southern Nyanza politics. The rumors making the round is that Mrs Asiyo has yet to decide on which position she would like to capture comes the year 20912.

Mrs Jane Were who hails from Kabuoch South in Pala Division, Ndhiwa has twice served as the chair person first of the larger County Council of South Nyanza and later in the same capacity in the Homa-Bay County Council until she lost her civic seat in the 2007 elections. Monica Amolo who hails from Ndhiwa once tried her luck in the contest of Ndhiwa Parliamentary seat in 2007 but lost badly to the incumbent Joshua Orwa Ojode. She is a business woman in Nairobi.

Elsewhere the name of Mrs Rose Buyu, who is currently serving as a member of the Boundary Commission, is linked to the Kisumu Senate seat. She contested the Kisumu Town West parliamentary seat in 2007 and gave the eventual winner Hon John Olago Aluoch a run for his money. If she chose to have a second shot at the same seat, then men aspirants should take an early notice to steer clear of her way. She is extremely popular and a good campaigner. Buyu is also a business woman in Nairobi.

And from Siaya the information being floated in public domain is that Prof. Jackline Oduol, who is currently serving in the government as the secretary for Gender and Children is planning to contest the Senate Seat. She contested the Alego-Usonga parliamentary seat, but lost to the incumbent Edwin Ochieng’Yinda.

The name of Mrs Grace Ogot is also featuring prominently in connection with the Senate seat for Siaya County, but she could not be reached to confirm or deny.

In Nyamira, the former nominated MP Mrs Catherine Nyamato would start as a favorite for the County seat, but it is rumored that she might be tempted to try her luck in the Specially seat reserved for the County women in the Senate instead of battling it out with male contestants in the open seat. There is the possibility of other women leaders coming forward to claim the same seat.

Other names being floated is that of the former Chairperson of the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Mrs Wilkister Onsando, who is a resident of Nyansiongo in Sotik area where she is running an hotel and also doing farming. Many people believes Mrs Onsando is mature enough and has a massed a lot of experience in public life which now places her at the to clinch of the top seat.

In the County of Kisii, two young women have declared their interest in the Senate seat. They are Prof.Moraa Gesicho a former l senior lecturer at the Kenyatta university and Ms janet Ong’era the director of operations at the ODM headquarters. Gesicho hails from Nyaribari, while Ong’era come from Bobasi. Both constituencies form the Kisii County.

Matter looked rather silent on Migori Senate seat. Only one name is being mentioned and that of the firebrand Mrs Agnes A. Okong’o from Central Sakwa in Awendo district. She contested the Rongo Parliamentary seat in 2007, but withdrew before the ODM primaries.

Report reaching us says women are also rearing to go for local assembly seats in all the six countries. Some have already declared their intention to contest the governorship of the various Counties as well as other position including those of the deputy governors, deputy assembly speakers and the rest.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com