Will Jirongo’s dream come to fruition?

By Stephen Makabila
Cyrus Jirongo, the only Opposition MP in Tenth Parliament, requires no introduction.
That the Lugari MP and chairman of Kaddu has presidential ambition is equally no secret.
In his home turf, his tribesmen at times whisper he is the most versatile and moneyed political son of their land.
In recent days, Jirongo has been in the news indicating he would seek presidential nomination on a UDM ticket, on the basis that Kaddu was a corporate member of the party.
"As things stand now, we are three individuals keen on using UDM ticket to contest the presidency,’’ said Jirongo, in Mombasa last weekend.
This, however, has not gone down well with his allies.
"Jirongo is a good leader but his decision to run on the UDM ticket was made without consulting Lugari voters," says Barasa Wambulwa, a Lugari councillor and an ally to the MP.
Wambulwa goes on: "He can join UDM but we assure him not many will follow him there. UDM cannot unite the people of Western."
Apart from Jirongo, others eyeing the UDM ticket are Eldoret North MP William Ruto and Trade Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere. Jirongo has indicated he would be launching his presidential bid for the top office in Mbale on July 30.
Mbale is the home ground of Deputy Prime Minister and Local Government Minister Musalia Mudavadi.
The grounds are in Mudavadi’s Sabatia constituency, but the town is the headquarters of Vihiga County, which is Jirongo’s ancestral land.
State House quest
Some feel his choosing of Mbale is meant to embarrass Mudavadi, who also nurses presidential ambition. Mudavadi has promised to fight for nomination through ODM.
Frank Matanga, a political scientist, argues Jirongo has realised Kaddu cannot take him anywhere; reason it makes sense to be in UDM.
"Birds of a feather fly together. Kingpins in UDM were closer allies of Jirongo years back and he therefore finds the party a warmer home," said Prof Matanga, who lectures at Masinde Muliro University.
Many are also raising questions why Jirongo chose a party with little support in Western Province, yet he had in the past pioneered calls to have leaders from the region use one vehicle to seek the presidency.
"It’s ironical that Jirongo talks of Western unity yet he is working with leaders from outside, some of whom have no kind words for respected Western Province leaders," argues corporate governance specialist Polycarp Onyango.
Onyango says while Jirongo may have massive resources to engage the grassroots, its not easy for him to sway political support in Western.
Matanga says: "My honest opinion is that Jirongo will not go far in UDM. It’s already a crowded house and soon it will have its owners and he is not one of them."
Apart from his one party crusade as a vehicle for Western Province, Jirongo had in the countdown to the 2007 elections joined forces with former Ford-Kenya chairman Musikari Kombo (now nominated MP) for a series of Luhya unity rallies that did not achieve much.
The need for ‘Luhya unity’ and economic emancipation has, however, remained on his lips in political engagements in Western Province.
Jirongo entered the national limelight in 1992 when he led the Youth for Kanu ‘YK’ 92 that campaigned for the Independence party in the first multiparty elections.
Before the YK-92 wave, he had served as the chairman of AFC Leopards.
In 1997, he tried his lack in parliamentary politics and won the Lugari seat, but briefly rebelled against his party, Kanu, jointly with Ruto and former Cherangany MP Kipruto Kirwa. The three then registered UDM, but left it moribund. Jirongo and Ruto now want to rebrand it and mould into their vehicle for the 2012 power battle.
Mending fencesAfter mending fences with Kanu prior to the 2002 elections, Jirongo was appointed minister for Regional Development.
He also put up a spirited fight to be elected one of the four Kanu vice-chairmen during the Kanu-National Development Party merger.
Come the 2002 race, Jirongo and Ruto were firmly in the Kanu campaigns for Uhuru Kenyatta, who was then running against President Kibaki of Narc for the president.
Uhuru lost the race, and Jirongo also lost his Lugari seat, paving way for Enock Kibunguchy, who represented the constituency between 2002 and 2007.
In the 2007 polls, Jirongo made a comeback on a Kaddu ticket.
In the Tenth Parliament, Jirongo made frantic efforts to be elected Leader of Official Opposition, a push that failed.
Jirongo was the only leader to go against the grain to campaign against the new Constitution at the referendum in Western Province. Mudavadi, Wamalwa, Kombo and former Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetang’ula, rallied support for a ‘Yes’ verdict.
Many had observed the script for the post-Kibaki politics in Western rested on unity at the referendum or the falling out after, and what may be emerging is not Jirongo’s unity dream. Many are watching Jirongo’s latest political move as he prepares to seek presidential nomination in UDM.