Commentaries
The Abagusii at political crossroads
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- Published on Friday, 20 June 2008 18:47
This was especially so for novices who were trying their hands in politics for the first time. Aspirants thus needed strategists, loyalists and men and women with tough muscles and stamina to survive. Those who could not position themselves well were to what has been known as Internally Displaced Politicians (IDPs) in their own constituencies. Presidential, parliamentary and civic aspirants came up with manifestos and eye-catching slogans to woo the electorate, who by then held their political destiny. The going was even tougher for presidential candidates.
Pretenders to the highest throne needed the muscle of the provincial administration as is the case with incumbents to mobilize grassroots support. Outsiders bidding for State House on the other hand needed key political point men to boost their support in various regions. These people later came to be known as community spokesmen. Their roles have become imperative in Kenya political landscape so much that one can never survive in the country’s topsy-turvy politics without them.
In Western Province for instance, Ford Kenya chairman Musikari Kombo who was felled in the 2007 poll was Party of National Unity’s and President Mwai Kibaki pointman while William Samoei Ruto was Orange Democratic Movement’s kingpin in the entire Rift Valley Province. In Coast Province, Transport Minister and Shirikisho party leader Chirau Ali Mwakere was the did the bidding for PNU as Tourism Minister and Pentagon member Najib Balala fought for ODM. In Luo Nyanza, Prime Minister Raila Odinga is the de facto community and regional leader.
Since this ideology seems to assume a tribal connotation, it is unpopular in Nairobi due to its complex nature occasioned by the metropolis dynamics. The case of Gusiiland political games are a classic example of one of the regions in the limelight for leadership squabbles. After the last election’s blows that left former Cabinet Minister, Simeon Nyachae in the cold for the first time since his debut in elective politics have consigned the Gusii community to oblivion in national politics.
As communities across the country strive to position themselves for the 2012 general elections, the Abagusii community may have lost direction after the long serving community elder and spokesman Nyachae was swept aside. During the 2002 Election, Nyachae the then powerful minister in the Daniel arap Moi regime came third after Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta in the presidential race. He went on to become a key ally of President Kibaki with Ford People being incorporated as key partners in PNU. The community had earnestly supported him in his presidential bid and although he lost, he still remains relevant to lead the political destiny of the community.
Nyachae, the son of Nyandusi often gave and still gives directions on what position the community should take on important and crucial national matters and is always heard to comment and rebuff any mudslinging or misuse of the community. He will not sit back and watch as some people or other communities soil the name of Omogusii. He successfully helped to quell the youth when they went on rampage 1997 with the same mission of lynching those who they considered practicing witchcraft. However, after the last year’s election elected leaders from the entire community have been positioning themselves to take over the mantle for Gusii to no avail.
In most occasions ceremonies arranged by some village elders to confer on certain leaders the mantle have flopped due to the undying influence of Nyachae in the region. And recently South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara arranged for his installation as Kisii elder during his home coming ceremony but the function ended in disarray after reports emerged that it was against the Kisii customs to install anyone as an elder in the absence of the predecessor.
The ceremony that was held at Nyamarambe, the headquarters of Kisii South District and just a stone- throw distance from Omingo’s rural home, met strong opposition from almost all Gusii leaders who dismissed it as an insult to the community after it emerged that it was to be staged during the post election violence. They criticized the move as haphazardly introduced and with ulterior motives, saying it was wrong for anybody to seek the unconstitutional office when community members who were uprooted from their farms in Rift Valley were still wallowing in IDP camps.
Education Minister and Nyaribari Masaba, MP Prof Sam Ongeri was reported to have objected to the installation of Magara as a Kisii elder at a time when more than 8,000 IDPs from the community were in camps. Ongeri who is a long serving Cabinet Minister and who made a come back to parliament last year, castigated the move as uncalled for, saying it was out to divide the Gusii Community that is already intact. Currently there are a number of challenges that the Omogusii is faced with. Last year, Abagusii were caught up in the post-election violence that erupted soon after President Kibaki was declared a winner. Like the Kikuyu and the Luo, Abagusii were killed, maimed, raped and injured. Their property was destroyed as others were chased away from their own lands.
Most of them, unexpectedly found themselves in refugee camps. Gusii politicians like Nyachae, Prof Ongeri, Wilfred Ombui, Dr James Gesami, Richard Momoima Onyonka and Joel Onyancha among others are no longer eyeing the spokesman slot. They are busy resettling the people who have been living in Ekerenyo and Borabu refugee camps for more than four months.
This was evident recently when the MPs from Gusii organized a major Harambee in Nairobi to help IDPs of the Gusii region. The same was evident when Prof Ongeri and his team visited Ekerenyo and Borabu refugee camps and physically played a key role in resettling the people. In any case, the installation of a Gusii elder is not of paramount importance in the area that is characterized by a high rate of poverty, acute shortage of jobs, diseases and declining academic performance among others.
