2002 Elections

Kanu Or Nyachae, Who Will Triumph?

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Published on Monday, 23 July 2007 00:23
The stage is set for a battle of titans. And, as the campaigns for the South Mugirango seat gain momentum, the question foremost in the minds of Kenyans is, who will carry the day - Kanu or the Opposition?

Or, better still, between Finance Minister Simeon Nyachae and President Moi?  Already, President Moi has announced his plans to visit the constituency to campaign for the Kanu candidate, Mr. David Kombo. He is to conduct the campaign after his party suspended Mr. Nyachae, hitherto considered the political torchbearer of the community.

Constituents are already frowning at the party's decision to nominate Mr. Kombo directly without allowing for nominations. This shut out other aspirants, who are now very bitter.

Although Mr. Nyachae has not publicly declared his support for any candidate, sources say he might back Ford-Kenya's James Magara, a brother to the late MP Enock Magara.

How President Moi hopes to work magic and deliver the seat to Kanu will be interesting to watch. As it is, the constituency has a lot of support for the late Magara and may wish to renew this for an opposition candidate.

The relationship between the area residents and Kanu has been a cold one. For instance, the late MP and his neighbour, Chris Obure, the Agriculture Minister, never saw eye to eye.

What makes the by-election more intricate is that it will be a testing ground for Mr. Nyachae's quest for the presidency. Since charity begins at home, critics see it as a war Mr. Nyachae must win. How else will he stake claim to the 2002 presidential polls if he loses on his home turf?

Experience has shown that most of the candidates Mr. Nyachae has supported in Gusii have triumphed. It is vividly remembered that in the 1992 elections he supported Dr Hezron Manduku to topple Prof Ongeri, now Public Health Minister.

During the same elections, he supported Mr. S.M. Manoti in Bobasi and threw out Mr. Obure. This time round, Mr. Nyachae will obviously capitalise on the recent happenings in Kanu to depict it as a monster.

He will also use his ouster from the Kisii Kanu branch chairmanship by Mr. Geoffrey Asanyo as evidence of how local Kanu supporters are seeking his downfall.