Obure faces a stiff challenge

Bobasi constituency was created in 1988 following the then review of the electoral boundaries which sub-divided the earlier Majoge-Bassi into Bobasi and Bomachoge.And it went down in history that Finance Minister Chris Obure went to Parliament unopposed in the first General Election for this constituency, giving him a second term after he represented the Majoge-Bassi between 1983 and 1988.

Bobasi spreads onto an area of 292.3 square kilometres. It has a population of over 160,000, while the registered voters are 59.726, according to the latest figures on the Electoral Commission of Kenya’s registered voters roll. Apart from the personality factor, this constituency’s politics has much to do with the Gucha/Trans Mara clashes, the transport infrastructure, the tea, coffee and other agricultural sectors, education and the unemployment crisis.But this time round, the atmosphere is crackling with the Kanu/Ford People rivalry, with almost all the challengers of Obure identifying themselves with the Ford People wave.

That aside, both Obure and his challengers will be relating either well, or badly, to the historic controversy that marked the creation of Gucha District, the yet-to-take-off Itumbe/Kenyerere tea factory and the controversies that often riddle Gucha County, Ogembo Town and Nyamache Town councils. When defending this seat, Obure will have to mount a vigorous campaign, besides pointing at his development initiatives. His adversaries are already atop the towers shouting about his weaknesses as MP and trying to convince the electorate to thwart his bid to return to Parliament. Those at variance with Obure claim that he has failed to mobilise funds for upgrading of the pathetic earth roads in parts of the constituency, citing the examples of Nyangusu-Nyacheki, Nyamache-Kiamokama, Mogonga-Kiobegi-Nyamache, Nyacheki-Nyamache, Nyagesa-Gesure-Nyakegogi and Motonto-Itibo roads.

The local people are blaming the Kanu government for the uncompleted construction of Ogembo District headquarters and the Nyamache, Nyacheki and Sameta divisional headquarters and the perpetual Abagusii/Maasai clashes at Nyangusu, Nyacheki, Sugubo and Nyabiosi areas. They also blame the Government for the sluggish implementation of the rural electrification programme, poor educational standards and the massive population of the unemployed youth. Obure’s support for Project Uhuru - a thing which his ministerial post in the Government somehow bounds him to do - is also creating fences between him and the anti-Kanu constituents who have been lobbying for Ford People’s Simeon Nyachae.

Incidents have been witnessed in the recent past where pro-Nyachae supporters were dispersed at Igare and Nyamache areas by police while some funerals and harambee functions attended by Obure have been marked by showdowns between his supporters and those backing Nyachae and Ford People. On the other hand, some locals claim that since their MP became a minister in the Eighth Parliament, reaching him has become somehow difficult unlike his time as Assistant Minister between 1983 and 1988. Some claim that Obure’s development activities and unity initiatives here were greater that time than now.

Obure’s admirers foresee another victory for their man. They say Obure’s role in the creation of Gucha District and Ogembo headquarters, contributions to schools, churches, women and youth groups, have put him in a superior slot against the challengers. They further add that he was influential in the upgrading of the once pathetic Itumbe Igare-Rionyiego and Igare-Keumbu roads, the installation of power at Itibo, Emenwa, Itumbe and Nyacheki markets, the upgrading of various health institutions and the equipping of various schools with computers.

What will also be giving Obure mileage in his defence of the seat is his oratory quality. Obure has been able to overrun the unhealthy moods of crowds at various functions, managing to affirm the position and strength of the government of the day against the Opposition, especially Ford People. Be that as it may, Obure will be facing an acid test against a legion of political stalwarts who include his perennial adversary, Stephen Manoti.

However, the man who is said is causing ripples on the ground and is mostlikely to upset the minister is medical practitioner Dr Ben Oonge.Popularly known as Benways”, he has greatly contributed to many development projects for schools, churches, women’s and youth groups. His supporters have been saying that “Benways leads while others follow.” A charismatic person, Oonge has been active on the ground, mobilising grassroots support and putting in place an effective campaign machinery.

The other main contenders are lawyer Simon Mauncho, National Convention Executive Council (NCEC) executive Kepta Ombati, former Kenya Co-operative Creameries (KCC) Managing Director Lumumba Nyaberi and Nairobi businessman Raphael Raini. The other contestants in the race are US-based scholars Henry Ogaga Bosire and Joseph Kambuni Nyambane, David Moracha, Daniel Matoke, former Andrew Rosana, Joshua Ongoro, Joseph Ratemo, Daniel Oenga Nyanchiri, Innocent Momanyi, David Gekara and Justus Ondara Nyaberi. Most of these aspirants have been involved in the development activities of the constituency. Manoti, Ombati, Moracha and Bosire have been demanding that political proxies be done away with in the schools committees and boards if the educational performance is to be improved.

And the clan factor which has sometimes determined the voting pattern in this constituency, may still have some effect with the showdown expected between Obure’s Bogetaorjo clan and Manoti’s relatively smaller Masige clan. A number of the contestants hail from the largest Boitang’are clan. All said and done, the Bobasi race will definitely be an exciting one since it has attracted a rare cluster of various cocks that are capable of crowing in their own styles and might