Commentaries

I belong to the "KISII TOWN CLAN"

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Published on Sunday, 24 January 2010 07:42
Gusii politics have over the years been shaped largely by clans. Although the clan is steadily losing the huge influence it had in determining who we vote for in the same way that ethnicity is losing out to other considerations in the national arena, many Abagusii would still rather vote for members of their clan regardless of all other factors. It would therefore be pretentious to assume that because Kisii Town constituency is urban and therefore cosmopolitan, then one’s clan will not be a factor in the elections. It will be. It is very likely that each candidate will receive the biggest support from members of their clans or former constituencies resident in the town. However to effectively serve as MP of Kisii Town, one must enjoy legitimacy, acceptance and support from every one of the many groups that make up Kisii Town. That is where I come in.

Many of the young men and women of Kisii Town do not know – or even care - what clan they belong to. The only “clan” they know is “KISII TOWN”. It is to this “clan” that I belong but because I know there are those to whom what clan a candidate belongs will determine how they vote, here is why they too should vote me into parliament. My ancestral home is in Nyaribari Chache Constituency but I was born and brought up in Kitutu Chache Constituency in addition to attending Schools there. I am therefore “Omogetutu” with roots in Nyaribari. This is a combination that makes me an attractive and acceptable choice for the town’s two biggest populations, the “Abagetutu” and “Abanyaribari”. The other major group, the “Abanchari” consider me a neighbor because my village, Botori, is on the border of the present day Kitutu Chache and Bonchari constituencies. Infact the nearest school to my home – which is just a few hundred metres from my house - Bishop Mugendi Secondary School is in Bonchari Constituency. I grew up, schooled and played football with a large number of “Abanchari” on whom I count to support my bid. 

It does not end there. Because, the Town’s residents come from every one of the present day Gusii constituencies, and because I was born and brought up in the town – unlike many of those I’ll be up against – most of the neighbours and friends I have had all my life have their roots in all ten Gusii constituencies. I have attended fund-raisers, weddings, funerals and other family functions of friends, neighbours and relatives in every corner of Gusii. It will not be too difficult to tap the support and co-operation of all these groups before and during my tenure. 

But much more important than hailing from and having friends and relatives from every corner of Gusii, the MP for Kisii Town must be someone who has a deep understanding of almost all the social, economic and political aspects of the Abagusii community. Those who have been reading my articles online will appreciate that I am an authority on almost everything about the Abagusii community. Such deep knowledge of all aspects of our community will prove useful in engaging in informed debate when pushing for the interests of the Town, when making decisions that affect not just the town but the entire community, in devising and implementing a development agenda that understands the Town’s – and therefore the community’s – most pressing priorities as well as when advising both the central and local governments on the town’s needs. I have pasted links to some of the articles that prove that I do not only have a very deep understanding of both our Town and Community, but also that I am very passionate about them.http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=52194900319http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=98368520319 http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=75507680319 http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=72010095319http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=64220100319 http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=64220100319 http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=61003725319http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=167143620319

It is no secret that the MP for Kisii Town needs to be an “all round Kisii” and should as a necessity, belong to the “Kisii Town Clan”. He or she must be someone who understands clearly who or what our Community and Town are, where we are coming from, where we should be headed to and why. He or she must have the passion, drive, commitment and qualities to steer us in that direction. I am all these and more. Supporting my candidature is the best thing anyone can do for our town and our community.