Anyona faces his biggest battle yet

Being home to Kenya Social Congress (KSC) leader and fiery politician George Moseti Anyona, Kitutu Masaba has always been a political hotbed and as the next General Election draws near, a lot of fireworks are expected. The constituency covers two administrative units of Manga and Rigoma divisions, with 60,870 registered voters.

A large portion of the constituency’s population estimated at 166,034 occupy 299 square kilometres. They depend mainly on agriculture for their livelihood. Tea and coffee are the main cash crops while maize, beans and bananas are the major food crops grown. The experiences a number of problems ranging from poor infrastructure, lack of electricity, poor and inadequate learning facilities, shrinking social amenities to the collapsing agricultural sector, mostly through bad leadership. The question of poor performance of local schools in national examinations and the collapsing tea and coffee industries have been of particular concern to the local people.

The contentious Kisii-Chemosit road and the issue of Sh2.3 million raised before the 1997 General Election by Ford People presidential aspirant Simeon Nyachae for women and youth in the constituency will feature prominently during the campaigns. The local residents have been doubting the Government’s commitment to completing the Kisii-Chemosit road project, which is the main artillery linking the area to the outside world. It has remained untamarcked for over 20 years. For the many years Kitutu Masaba constituents have been going to the elections, clannism and financial resources have never been the main determining factors on who carries the day, but analysts say they are slowly taking root.

Anyona is facing a serious challenge from the close to twenty aspirants who have declared their interest in the seat and are all seeking the Ford People nomination. Surprisingly, no contender has shown an interest in seeking the seat on a Kanu ticket. Anyona is facing serious threats from perennial contenders Walter Nyambati, an insurance executive and the Kitutu Masaba Ford People chairman. The runner-up to Anyona, businessman Samson Nyang’au Okioma is also in the race.

The challengers will have to contend with Anyona’s charisma on the political stage and his wealth of experience in politics. Among the other contenders are 42-year-old former senior economist with the Ministry of Planning and National Development, Timothy Bosire, Captain Matata Nyakeya who was formerly with the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Kenya Chamber of Commerce and Industry Nyamira branch secretary Kengere Mose Atati, and a local medical practitioner, Charles Omwenga.

All are seeking the Ford People nomination. Dr Andrew Isoe Ochoki, James Anchinga, Robert Ouko, Oyondi Momanyi and Mrs Abigaeri Martini are also in the race. The Ford People nomination exercise is likely to generate plenty of heat and the fallout could result in a number of defections. If Nyamira Kenya National Union of Teachers executive secretary, Richard Kibagendi gives in to mounting pressure from the electorate to join the race, he will further complicate the Ford-P nomination exercise owing to his oratory and mobilisation skills. He is also close ally of Nyachae.

Whatever Anyona’s campaign strategy may be, his toughest competitors, Nyambati, Okioma and Matata are greatly banking on their closeness to the electorate.