A fierce battle is slowly unfolding in Nyamira County as the race for the senatorial position heats up with six months remaining before the general election. Former law society of Kenya chairman Okong’o Omogeni has thrown his weight in the race for the senatorial position and is expected to fight it out with former West Mugirango member of parliament Henry Obwocha who declared his interest for the position immediately after the promulgation of the new constitution, advocate Kennedy Mong’are and businessman Robert Kombo, with each contestant banking on the past record to woo voters.
Nyamira County lies in a squared area of 899km and has more than 750,000 inhabitants with agriculture being the major economic activity for the people here. Ironically, although the county has fertile and has regular rainfall, the poverty rate is 46.60% with illiteracy levels continuing to rise. This is evidenced by the fact that Nyamira County produces the worst performing schools in the national examinations. Experts are saying that the poverty rate in the county is as a result of imbalance in what the residents export to other counties and what they receive and this brings about a negative current account balance.
Former planning minister Henry Obwocha has been campaigning for two years urging voters that he was the right choice for the senatorial position.
Former L.S.K boss Okon’go Omogeni is banking on his knowledge and experience as a lawyer to clinch the post. He says that his experience will help the people of Nyamira County since it is the Senate Assembly that will be passing laws. He says that given an opportunity, he will fight for resources and bring them to the county for development. He refute the idea that a party identified with the Abagusii should be formed but rather says that the Abagusii can be unified through other better ways like improving the education levels and health which has deteriorated. He says that his managerial skills can be demonstrated when he was L.S.K boss for two terms. He says that he is bringing new value based leadership for the people of Nyamira County. On Obwocha’s candidature, Mr. Okong’o says that he welcomes him for a fierce battle. “I like competition, I do not want it to be an easy race, it will be boring.” He says. He also added that his experience on the constitution drove him to seek the senatorial position and he cannot take up anything less than that. “The senate participates in law making process that concerns the county, I am a lawyer, I believe this is the right seat for me.”
Mr. Robert Kombo, a businessman in Nairobi has promised that he will overturn the tables once elected as senator for the region. He blamed the leaders of the larger Gusii community for being used as ‘turn boys’ for a long time failing to unite the community to speak with one voice. He intends to revive the Mkenya Social Congress party which was led by the late George Anyona, a radical politician during the Moi era which he will use to vie for the senatorial position. He blamed former MP Henry Obwocha for killing Ford People, a political party which was widely associated with the Abagusii in the 2002 general election when they voted as a bloc for Simeon Nyachae. He said that he intends to use Mkenya Social Congress to once more unite the Abagusii and also use the party as a bargaining tool for the national cake. However Kennedy Mong’are, another contestant seems to disagree with Mr. Kombo saying that the abagusii community is a democratic people who vote for individuals rather than the party
Mr. Mong’are who has not named his political party although he is widely associated with Minister for Water Charity Ngilu whom he termed as his political mentor said that he will leave the decision to the people of Nyamira County to advise him on the political party appropriate for him.
Elders from different clans have been holding meetings trying to see how best they will share the seats among the three constituencies being housed by Nyamira County. Many are arguing that the Senator, governor and Women representative should come from the three constituencies to avoid conflicts among the community. Former West Mugirango CDF chairman Evans Onduko, who is also a political observer and analyst in Nyamira says that the equation on seats sharing among the three constituencies will be a tricky matrix equation to solve. He notes the instance of Obwocha and Okong’o both who hail from West Mugirango. “It will be difficult to convince any of them to step down for one or go for another seat since they all have their eyes set for the senatorial position” says Onduko. A meeting held recently in Kebirigo and was attended by MP James Gesami resolved that each constituency should get a bite of the pie in the coming county government. Former councilor Nicholas Ondemo says that Nyamira County is advantaged since it has only three constituencies unlike Kisii County that has seven. “it will be much easier if the seats are shared among the three constituencies to avoid conflicts, everyone would feel well represented,” Says Ondemo.
And as the clock ticks, so are the leaders strategizing the next move with many opting to play their cards close to their chests. It is believed that the race for the senatorial position will attract other contenders soon. With the shrinking land mass versus the growing population, experts are fearing that poverty levels will rise further if proper mechanisms are not put in place to encourage the youths to embrace the silicon value concept where they will use their brains to survive rather than depending on the inherited lands which are diminishing. A hard task is glaring for those to be elected into the county government.
SAMWEL BORN MAINA
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