2002 Elections
Ford-Kenya Nominations Set For Today
- Details
- Published on Monday, 23 July 2007 00:29
Voters in the 17 polling stations are expected at the end of the nomination to have picked on one aspirant tipped to replace the late Ford-Kenya MP Enock Nyakieya Magara.
An epic duel is expected between the late MP's brother James Omingo Magara, who until joining the race was a senior KRA official, and influential Nairobi-based businessman Mr. Manson Oyongo Nyamweya, judging by the huge crowds they have attracted in their campaigns.
A third aspirant is Nairobi businessman Paul Omingo.
Supporters of Nyamweya and the elder Magara clashed last Friday during a Ford-K's meeting at Nyamarambi divisional headquarters.
The two groups had disagreed on the modalities to be used in picking a candidate prompting police to intervene to stop a fist fight by whisking away the two candidates and Gem MP Joe Donde who chaired the meeting.
It emerged during the meeting that the entire Gucha district Ford-K officials and Nyamweya were for the delegates system but Magara and his followers who out-numbered the opponents were for a secret ballot. The situation generated into a free for all fight.
Before police moved in, Mr. Donde had announced that the party could use the secret ballot during the nomination explaining that even though their constitution allowed for the delegates system, it could not impose the rule on the majority.
Personality will also play a role during the nomination. Magara accuses the soft-spoken Nyamweya of having links with Kanu big wigs, which he says will betray the political ideas of the late MP.
Nyamweya on his part refutes the claims terming them political propaganda and instead alleges that Mr. Magara was being imposed on the people by a Ford-K MP from Kisii as he has never been a party member nor a registered voter in the constituency until the death of his brother and upon payment of the party's clearance fee to contest.
The winner after today faces Kanu's nominee David Ondimu Kombo, whose endorsement from the top has caused an uproar among local party leaders led by civic leader Joel Makanga who felt cheated by the dismissal of his candidature by the party headquarters.
A former area MP and assistant minister Reuben Oyondi who is an ally to former finance minister Simeon Nyachae is rumored for eyeing the seat but has chosen to keep to his chest his political cards probably awaiting to cash in on the support of the Ford Kenya loser.
However the Nyachae factor widely expected to influence the out come of the by election has kept aloof the serious parties nomination by also not visiting the constituency and not intervening any of the aspirants even though he has pledged to campaign for a candidate popular in the constituency.
Political observers have it that the Ford Kenya nominee will most likely put Nyachaes strategy to show his might against Kanu whose national chairman President Moi will campaign in the route for Kombo with two Kisii cabinet ministers Prof Sam Ongeri and Chris Obure already on the ground to market Kombo.
