Commentaries

Is this goodbye?

Mr Simeon Nyachae’s announcement on Monday that he is about to quit politics could force President Kibaki’s re-election strategists back to the drawing board.

As one who has played a critical role in shoring up the President’s administration in turbulent times, his departure would trigger realignments on a scale that could complicate matters for the Kibaki camp.

The magnitude of Nyachae’s declaration is such that even before he makes his departure official, President Kibaki must begin shopping for an equally formidable ally from Nyanza, a region that has consistently voted against the incumbent.

"I will tell you the final word regarding my retirement. I’m telling you this in advance to let you think of a possible successor who is capable of steering the constituency to the next level," Nyachae told his Nyaribari Chache constituents on Monday.

With that statement, the Roads minister made what was once considered only a remote possibility begin to look like reality.

The 74-year-old Nyachae said: "I have been in hospital in London for the past two weeks. My health is more important and I had to address it first.

"Many of you have been asking whether I will contest again and why I have not been in the constituency. It’s because of my health".


‘Community will be left without a leader’

On Tuesday, even as President Kibaki’s camp absorbed the possible consequences of this pronouncement, Abagusii leaders, most of whom owe their rise in politics to the veteran politician, were left in shock and disbelief.

"Has he said he his quitting politics? When did he say that? I must first talk to him and find out what has gone wrong," a bewildered Mr Okeri Masanya, the North Mugirango Ford-People MP, said.

Parliamentary colleagues Mr Hezron Manduku (Nyaribari Masaba) and Mr Zebedeo Opore (Bonchari) joined Opore in urging Nyachae to reconsider his position.

Their pitch was that Abagusii would be left without a leader and all the politicians that he has groomed over the years would become political orphans.

"The Kisii community has been looking up to Nyachae for guidance and we cannot do without him at the front," Masanya weighed in with a tone that concealed little of his apparent deep concern.

Nyachae should listen to the voice of his constituents and the larger Kisii who want him to stay on, Opore pleaded.

But the Minister for Planning, Mr Henry Obwocha, who is viewed by many as Nyachae’s possible successor, could not be reached for comment.

However, he has always spoken favourably of Nyachae whom he has referred to as "our symbol of unity in championing the interests of the Abagusii people", and one that the community depended on because of his leadership acumen.

Manduku said Nyachae has been a pillar of the unity of Abagusii and a force to reckon with, both nationally and in local politics.

"When he speaks, other communities listen because they know that he is the voice of his people," said Manduku.




Announcement came as a surprise

Delivering the shocker at the Keumbu Social Hall, Nyachae advised his constituents to choose a capable leader to succeed him.

He said: "Many of you have been asking whether I will be in the contest again and why I have not been in the constituency. It is because of my health."

That announcement came as a surprise after the minister recently said that only death would cause his departure from politics.

"Nitatolewa huko na sanduku" (Only death will get me out of politics) he was reported having said two weeks ago.

But the matter of whether or not he will be quitting, Nyachae told his voters, rested with his doctors in London.

Kitutu Chache MP Mr Jimmy Angwenyi told The Standard Nyachae’s health was more important than politics, suggesting that whatever advice the minister will be given by his doctors in September should be respected.

"We will of course miss his leadership and force in Parliament and Government. But he has nurtured us well to a point that we can stand on our own as he guides us from outside the august House," he said.

Angwenyi believes that Nyachae would still successfully lead Kibaki’s re-election campaign even if he were not offering himself for re-election as an MP.

Prof Sam Ongeri, a longtime critic of Nyachae, said the Roads minister has made his contribution at the constituency, community and national levels and his decision should be respected.

"We will respect his decision. Matters of health are personal and we should let him decide on what he thinks is best for him," said Ongeri, himself a doctor.


Determined political destiny of many politicians

The National Labour Party secretary-general, Mr Walter Nyambati, and lawyer Mr Dennis Abincha said Nyachae should be left alone to decide his political future.

"If Nyachae strongly feels his time is up, he should be wished well and good health as he prepares to leave but not bother him to stay on for that will in a way impair his performance in the political arena," said Nyambati, a former confidant-turned-critic.

One of the key figures that Kibaki reached out to as he formed the Government of National Unity in 2005, Nyachae was poised to play another significant role in his re-election bid.

In Nyachae, President Kibaki had by some strange twist of fate found solid support from the only man who had declined to endorse him in 2002 and gone on to vie for the presidency on a Ford-People ticket.

Nyachae acquitted himself well by backing the President during the campaigns for the referendum on the draft Constitution in 2005, which the Government, however, lost.

He also managed to keep the Ford-People support for the President intact, only having to deal with one Omogusii rebel in the name of Mr Omingo Magara, who is aligned to ODM-Kenya.

For many years, Nyachae single-handedly determined the political destiny of many politicians in Kisii even long before he joined parliamentary politics 15 years ago.

He fell out with retired President Moi prior to the 2002 General Election and vigorously campaigned to succeed him, but faired badly, finishing a distant third after President Kibaki and Kanu’s Uhuru Kenyatta.

However, his candidature saw his party win 15 seats, including all the 10 parliamentary seats in the larger Kisii.