File | NATION A supporter of a parliamentary by-election candidate reaches out for a handshake at the Shauri Moyo Social Hall after presentation of nominations papers to the Interim Independent Electoral Commission in April. The by-election takes place next week.
By OLIVER MATHENGE omathenge@ke.nationmedia.com and CASPER WAITHAKA cwaithaka@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Tuesday, August 9 2011 at 22:00
Posted Tuesday, August 9 2011 at 22:00
In Summary
- Majengo resident says she has lost interest in polls and will not vote as she does not expect help from whoever is elected
Three major parties are set for a bruising battle in next week’s by-election in Kamukunji with the winner earning bragging rights ahead of the General Election.
ODM, PNU 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 in the next seven days.
However, Mr Mbugua is not contesting, and so Kamukunji will be represented by a new MP.
The Kamukunji seat is crucial for the control of Nairobi politics. Currently ODM has four MPs in Nairobi — Mr Odinga (Langata), Mr Fred Gumo (Westlands), Ms Elizabeth Ongoro (Kasarani) and Bishop Margaret Wanjiru (Starehe).
PNU has Dagoretti (Beth Mugo) and Embakasi (Ferdinand Waititu). Makadara is held by Mr Gideon Mbuvi of Narc-Kenya.
ODM candidate Ibrahim Ahmed aka Johnnie, who filed the petition against Mr Mbugua, and Mr Yusuf Hassan (PNU Alliance), have emerged as front runners.
Narc-Kenya that fielded candidates in the most recent by-elections, bagging the Juja and Makadara seats, is also confident of winning the Kamukunji seat through youthful candidate Brian Weke.
Five other candidates — Ms Catherine Muthoni Kihara (GNU), Mr James Matagaro (Kenya Social Congress), Mr David Waihiga (Agano), Geoffrey Mutuku (TIP) and Mr Daniel Omao (Ford People) are also in contention.
Voters in the constituency on Tuesday said they were likely to vote for a candidate who demonstrated he or she would address their immediate needs, among them, jobs.
Kamukunji constituents interviewed by the Nation said the period between the August 18 by-election and next year’s General Election was not adequate for whoever is elected as area MP to achieve much, but they wanted an MP who would address their immediate needs.
These include unemployment, poor roads, inadequate housing, lack of clean water, environmental degradation and poor public health services.
Ms Cindy Wambui who has been jobless since she completed O-level in 2009 said she prefer an MP whose priority would be unemployment.
“Time is limited, and we cannot heap a lot of expectations on who will be elected, but we need a person who will provide immediate solutions to some of problems facing Kamukunji residents,” she said.
Ms Dorcas Achieng, 23, a resident of Majengo slums said she had lost interest in the polls and she was not going to vote because she did not expected to be helped by whoever was elected.
Ms Grace Wambui Njenga, 42, said she wanted the new MP to create job opportunities for the youth.
The candidates have taken up door-to-door campaigns and road shows ahead of the by-election which was initially to be held on May 23, but was halted after an aspirant who was barred from contesting moved top court.
The vote rich Gikomba market, Majengo and Kiambio informal settlements have been frequented by the candidates as have the Eastleigh and Pumwani areas.
The Somali community in Eastleigh and Pumwani is viewed as a likely decisive factor in the by-election. Traditionally, the two areas have represented close to half of the votes in the vast constituency of 130,472 voters.
According to the Interim Independent Electoral Commission, polling centres in Eastleigh and Pumwani hold 75,000 votes.
Somalis are known to align their politics at the ballot on clan lines. But with the by-election having attracted two Somalis, each in ODM and PNU, other communities are also key in the polls scheduled for August 18. Still Mr Hassan and Mr Ahmed are expected to be the top contenders as the campaigns enter the home stretch.
The PNU Alliance is counting on the unity of its key leaders Uhuru Kenyatta (Kanu), Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka (ODM-K) and Internal Security minister George Saitoti (PNU).
The support of the G7 Alliance which brings on board Eldoret North MP William Ruto and Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa is also seen as a boost for Mr Hassan.
From ODM, party leader Raila Odinga, deputy 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.
Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua, who has declared interest in the presidency, has been at the constituency to bolster Mr Weke’s campaigns.
Kamukunji, like other constituencies faces numerous challenges., among them are poor infrastructure, poverty and youth unemployment.
It is home to poorly planned Gikomba market where traders have often lost their wares to fires due to poor roads. Eastleigh has some of the worst roads in the city.
Kamukunji also experiences long periods of water shortages coupled with a poor sewerage system.
Other major issues the candidates have promised to address if elected include land grabbing, insecurity, and the poor state of Pumwani Maternity Hospital.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment