2007 Elections

SOUTH MUGIRANGO - ODM factor may give Magara a headstart in the crowded race

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Published on Tuesday, 18 September 2007 06:06

The political temperature in South Mugirango constituency is rising as various aspirants strategise to unseat the incumbent Mr Omingo Magara.

Mr Magara will be fighting tooth and nail to retain the seat for a third term. Mr Magara broke ranks with the Gusii political supremo, Roads and Public Works minister Simeon Nyachae, to join ODM Kenya.

Mr Magara and Mr Mwandawiro Mghanga (Wundanyi) are the two Ford People MPs who defied Mr Nyachae’s attempt to drift with them into President Kibaki’s Government of National Unity and opted to remain in the Opposition.

Mr Magara is the ODM-K national treasurer and has been closely associated with Mr Raila Odinga, of late having been part his entourage in overseas visits. As the key ODM-K pointman in the Gusii region, Mr Magara will come up directly against Mr Nyachae, who is struggling to keep Ford-P as the main political party in the area.

The constituency comprises five clans namely Bogetenga, Botabori, Bosinange, Boige and Bogusero which would determine the winning candidates come elections. Each clan has so far presented a candidate, with Bogetenga and Botabori leading with four.

The battle lines for the seat in the next General Election are yet to be defined clearly because, apart from party politics, clans would also determine the winner.

The dominant parties in the constituency are Ford-P and ODM-K. Former MP Reuben Oyondi, who is the national vice-chairman of Ford-P and a nominee to the East African Legislative Assembly, may have a hand in determining who wins the battle.

Mr Magara comes from the Bosinange clan which is the third largest. He first won the seat in a by-election after the death of his brother Nyankieya Magara in a road accident.