Monday, November 21, 2011

Popularity contest for candidates in Kitutu Masaba



By ROBERT NYASATO
Coming months before next year’s General Election, the Kitutu Masaba by-election is presenting a perfect opportunity for 2012 presidential hopefuls to gauge their popularity.
That explains why those in the race to succeed President Kibaki, including Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his deputy Uhuru Kenyatta, are leaving nothing to chance as they campaign for their respective party candidates.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga with Kitutu Masaba ODM Candidate Timothy Bosire (center) during a rally at Manga Stadium in Nyamira County. [PHOTO: NICHOLAS NTHENGE/PMPS]
It is argued that a win by a candidate supported by any of the presidential candidate will mean the electorate is likely to support their bid to State Housecome next year.
This was captured well by the premier when he campaigned for ODM candidate in the by-elections, economist Timothy Bosire.
"By voting in the ODM candidate, it will demonstrate that the Gusii people are committed to supporting me win the presidency in 2012," said the ODM leader.
The 2012 presidential hopefuls who have traversed Kitutu Masaba include Raila, Uhuru, Narc-Kenya’s Martha Karua, Peter Kenneth of Kenya National Congress, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Eldoret North MP William Ruto.
Uhuru, Kalonzo and Ruto, who are in the G7 Alliance, have thrown their weight behind former MP Walter Nyambati whose term was cut short after he lost an election petition filed by Justus Omiti, a voter who was Bosire’s chief campaigner in 2007.
Uhuru, who pitched tent at Gesima on Friday, asked the constituents to re-elect Nyambati so that they were not delinked from the rest of Kenyans who have identified themselves with the Kibaki administration.
Karua, who is the Gichugu MP, visited the constituency where she held a series of rallies to drum up support for her party’s torchbearer city lawyer Mose Nyambega while Kenneth has twice landed in a helicopter to woo voters to High Court advocate Shadrack Mose’s stable.
Ford People’s Mwancha Okioma, who has been uncomfortable with PNU bigwigs supporting Nyambati, has opted for house-to-house campaigns backed by party chairman and former Cabinet Minister Henry Obwocha, a close ally of former party leader Simeon Nyachae who is still a force in Kisii politics.
Campaign trail
And addressing a leader’s meeting at Bosire’s Nyamwanga home before embarking on the campaign trail, the premier said by voting for his party’s candidate, the people of Kitutu Masaba and by extension the Gusii community shall have expressed confidence in him and the Orange party.
Although the 11 Kisii MPs are united in calling for the Gusii community to speak in one voice, the by-election has split them through the middle with one faction rallying behind ODM’s Chris Obure and the other PNU Alliance’s, Prof Sam Ongeri, a situation that has been compounded by the presidential aspirants.
The by-election scheduled for Monday attracted 17 candidates but only 15 were cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to run for the seat billed to shape or destroy political careers of some contestants.
Kitutu Masaba has been the bedrock of opposition politics having produced firebrand politicians including the late George Moseti Anyona, Abuya Abuya, whose exit from the political arena left a vacuum.
Though, Obure observes that the decision of who becomes the next Kitutu Masaba legislator lies with the electorate, he avers that the whole country is watching which direction it takes.
"The outcome of the by-election will determine where Omogusii will be placed, ODM as a party and the PM given that this is his home turf," Observed Obure while addressing a leader’s meeting at Bosire’s home on Sunday.
But Prof Ongeri, sees it differently saying the community should not be a shopping ground for presidential aspirants. "The Kisii people must have a clear identity...presidential aspirants should not look for us to support their leadership cause while ignoring our plight as a community," he said in an interview.
Prof Ongeri said all schemes to divide the community to weaken their bargaining power will be resisted at all costs citing the scramble for the Kisii vote as witnessed in previous by-elections in Bomachoge and South Mugirango.
"Outsiders are being used to disintegrate the Kisii vote so that we can lose our identity and by extension bargaining power...electing MPs on different parties means we shall only be recognised as individuals without a voice," he opines.
Prof Ongeri believes by voting in Nyambati, it will help solidify Omogusii behind PNU Alliance so that the next General Election finds the community a formidable one in deciding who succeeds President Kibaki.
Election violence
He says the by-election should not be another foray into Kisii by presidential candidates since the post-election violence saying instead it will determine if the community shall become a voting bloc in 2012.
"I see a red signal for the Gusii community if we don’t rethink our position and for the sake of the youth and future generations," Prof Ongeri warned.
However, Obure disagrees with the position, saying the community stands to benefit more in different political parties.
"We can only be united in pursuing development for our people but can’t afford to be trapped in one party," he argues.
It now remains to be seen how the by-election will be used to solve the unity equation and shape the presidential race.
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