Bruising battle for Kamukunji and Ikolomani by-elections next week

Photo PMPS Prime Minister Raila Odinga with ODM aspirant Shinali Masaka for Ikolomani constituency at Musoli Primary School grounds on May 19, 2011.

By LUCAS BARASA lbarassa@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Thursday, May 19 2011 at 22:00

In Summary

• ODM and PNU spoiling for war in 2012 are keen to use Kamukunji to test strength

Three major parties are set for a bruising battle in Monday’s by-election in Kamukunji with the winner earning bragging rights ahead of the 2012 General Election.

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ODM, the PNU alliance and Narc-Kenya are engaged in a bare-knuckles fight for the seat — which fell vacant following a successful court petition against former MP Simon Mbugua — as they wind up their search for votes on Saturday.

However, Mr Mbugua is not contesting and therefore Kamukunji will be represented by a new MP.

ODM candidate Ibrahim Ahmed aka Johnnie, who filed the petition against Mr Mbugua, and Mr Yusuf Hassan, have emerged as front runners.

Narc-Kenya that has been fielding candidates in the recent by-elections, bagging the Juja and Makadara seats, is also confident of winning the Kamukunji seat through youthful candidate Brian Weke.

Four other candidates — Ms Catherine Muthoni Kihara (GNU), Mr James Matagaro (Kenya Social Congress), Mr David Waihiga (Agano) and Mr Daniel Omao (Ford People) are also in contention.

Mr Hassan is a former journalist and UN official, and has been using his work experience and education to woo voters. However, opponents accuse him of being an “outsider” with little interest of locals at heart.

Mr Ahmed, a businessman, boasts of being born and bred in Kamukunji and wants voters to make it right as he alleges that his votes were stolen in the 2007 polls. Reports also indicate Mr Mbugua is quietly campaigning for Mr Ahmed.

Former Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara who is among those campaigning for Ms Muthoni also expressed hope of winning the seat.

Ms Muthoni was first elected as a councillor for Bahati in 1992 at the age of 22, and her supporters say she is the best as she understands local issues having been bred there.

Ms Muthoni, who campaigned in Muthurwa Market and Machakos Bus Station yesterday called on residents to elect leaders, not parties.

Mr Weke, a former tout turned human rights campaigner also comes from Jerusalem and has urged residents to vote for him, promising development and a fight against land grabbing.

Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua, who has declared interest for the presidency, has been at the constituency to bolster Mr Weke’s campaigns.

Major issues the candidates have promised to address if elected include poor roads, land grabbing, insecurity, unemployment, problems facing traders and tenants and poor state of Pumwani Maternity Hospital.

Former bitter rivals turned coalition partners — ODM and PNU — are spoiling for a major fight in 2012 and are keen to use the Kamukunji by-elections to test their strength.

The parties big guns have been in the constituency to drum up support for their respective candidates, promising locals goodies if they are elected and pleading with them to vote for them.

From ODM, party leader Raila Odinga, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet Ministers James Orengo, Charity Ngilu, Franklin Bett, Anyang Nyong’o, Fred Gumo, Joe Nyagah and Mohamed Elmi have been in Kamukunji to market Mr Ahmed.

PNU alliance brigade on the other hand has been led to Kamukunji by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Uhuru Kenyatta, Kiraitu Murungi, George Saitoti, Beth Mugo and Acting co-government chief whip Johnstone Muthama.

The Kamukunji seat is crucial for the control of Nairobi votes, as the county is usually seen as the face of Kenya and influences how the rest of the country votes during national polls.