2007 Elections

Magara siblings clash over seat

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Published on Monday, 12 November 2007 03:02

South Mugirango constituency is in the spotlight as outgoing MP and ODM national treasurer, Mr Omingo Magara, and his younger sister, Karen Nyamoita, vie for voters’ attention.

The bold and eloquent Nyamoita, who is seeking a PNU ticket, has declared her intention to unseat her brother and recently launched her campaigns. Asked why she is contesting against her brother, Nyamoita, 36, said it was her democratic right to vie for the seat. 

“I want to make it clear that I am not contesting against Omingo in his capacity as my brother but as a political opponent,” she said. The Magara family, she said, is divided over candidature. 

“Some members of the family support me while others support him (Omingo). My father has a soft spot for me,” she said. Nyamoita said she is contesting the seat to redeem the family’s and her Bosinange clan’s image. 

“I want to redeem my family’s and our clan’s image. I don’t want us to be condemned as a family due to Omingo’s failures.” She adds: “When my late brother Nyankeiya Magara was elected to Parliament, he had a clear vision for South Mugirango which Omingo discarded immediately he was elected.”

During the 2002 General Election, she contested the Makadara seat in Nairobi on a Ford Asili ticket and won a paltry 256 votes. Mr Magara says his sister has been sponsored by his enemies to portray him as a leader who is not accepted even at his own home.

“She is working at the behest of my political enemies and she will get the surprise of her life when it comes to voting,” he said on the telephone. But he added that it was her sister’s democratic right to contest any post. Others eyeing the seat are former MP David Kombo, Mr Manson Oyongo Nyamweya, Mr Apepo Ombasa and Dr Rashid Minyong’a. Ms Nyamoita admits that she faces an uphill task in her quest to wrest the seat from her brother. 

“I have been asked questions about my marital status but after extensive voter education targeting the youth and women that question is fading out,” she said.

Ms Nyamoita was in June this year injured when youths stoned her car at Eburi. She claimed that one of her brothers (not the MP) had incited her assailants. She was injured on the head and her car’s windscreen shattered. Mr Magara’s allies have labelled her a Simeon Nyachae project, something she denies.

“I’m not Nyachae’s project and the only time I have met him was during the recent funds-drive in aid of youth groups. They are claiming that he is funding my campaigns but that’s untrue because I’m not contesting on his party’s ticket. However, I’m supporting President Kibaki’s re-election bid,” she said.

Mr Magara’s supporters allege that he is targeted by pro-government campaigners due to his position in ODM and the fronting of his sister to oppose him is part of the wider plot to discredit him.

Ms Nyamoita is a founder member of Mageuzi lobby group, a board member of Gusii  Human Righst Watch Network and a member of the National Youth Movement. She is a member and chairperson, Gender Committee of the National Convention Executive Council (NCEC) and a member - Kenya League of Women Voters. She is also a member of the Kenya Women Political Caucus, Education Centre for Women in Democracy and a director of the Kisii Soapstone Society. She said her quest for leadership is issue-oriented. 

“My agenda is not to undermine any leadership but to echo the need for gender dialogue and a balanced part