Daggers are drawn as coalition rivals ODM and PNU clash in the titanic battle for Shinyalu and Bomachoge constituencies. Only three weeks are left before the by-elections. In Shinyalu the campaigns are warming up among 11 candidates seeking to secure the seat with Cyrus Jirongo’s Kaddu giving the coalition rivals stiff competition.

In Bomachoge, President Kibaki’s PNU and Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s ODM are targeting the seat in what is being seen as the grassroots battle of the two coalition government principals. Candidates in the two constituencies will have to rely on the influence of political bigwigs to boost campaigns for the August 27 polls.

Mars Group in conjunction with Partners for Change have organised a joint public debate among the top candidates this weekend.

An official from Mars Group Ben Bella Oyaro said preparations for the debate set for Saturday were complete. "We are optimistic we will hold this debate despite three previous cancellations after some candidates failed to commit themselves," he said. He said nine candidates had promised to participate while two others were yet to assure them of their participation.

"We want the electorate to know whom they are voting for through their policies and agenda for the constituency," he explained. Eleven candidates cleared by the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) among them Justus Kizito (ODM) Patrick Chungani (PNU), Daniel Khamasi (Kaddu) and New Ford-Kenya’s Babetu Amutavi. The contest includes Chris Milimu (Ford-People), Jenipher Shamalla (UDM), Ayisi Ingoi (Narc-Kenya), Ambrose Lusuli (Kanu), Gerishon Machanja (Afford-Kenya) and Geoffrey Agwili Segero (Ford-Kenya).

Assistant Minister George Khaniri, Emuhaya MP Wilber Otichillo and Manyala Keya will spearhead early ODM campaigns before Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Raila and the ODM brigade joins them in the final stages. Mr Jirongo warned the coalition rivals to prepare for a titanic battle as he declared a fresh onslaught against Mr Mudavadi’s party. "Kaddu would have not fielded a candidate but Mudavadi declined to provide unity and leadership," Jirongo said.

The New Ford-Kenya candidate will reportedly rely on backing from Housing Minister Soita Shitanda and Ikolomani MP Bonny Khalwale.

Narc-Kenya chairperson Martha Karua and her Secretary-General Danson Mungatana are among those expected to campaign for their candidate.

The Shinyalu by-election will act as a litmus test of the strength of the two grand coalition partners ODM and PNU. Mudavadi is perceived as the top politician in the region, in terms of rank and this could be his golden opportunity to ensure ODM retains the Shinyalu seat left vacant by the demise of Charles Lugano.

In Shinyalu the clan factor may decide the election. The Isukha constitute majority of the voters. Voters, however, maintained they would peg their choice on who portrays good leadership qualities. In the 2007 General Election, ODM swept 18 constituencies of the 24 in Western Province with Kaddu only getting one. Kaddu has been holding meetings to woo voters for Mr Khamasi.

Selling Khamasi might also pose some challenges as locals accuse him of neglecting other parts of the constituency during his tenure as MP for 10 years between 1997 and 2007. New Ford-Kenya Party leader Soita Shitanda said: "We are hitting the ground this week for our candidate. We know our competitors will do the same but we are ready and prepared to tackle them head-on," he said. PNU Deputy Chairman Noah Wekesa toured the constituency last week and asked voters to elect visionary leaders and turn down handouts.

He unveiled Mr Chungani, the party candidate, and called on Shinyalu people not to vote for an individual due to his wealth. Observers say the race is too close to call between Kizito, Khamasi, Babetu and Chungani, all perceived as front-runners.

Campaigns are proving a tricky affair for political parties and senior politicians who want a foothold in the vote-rich Abagusii region. The by-election has also put prominent politicians from the region in a tight spot to demonstrate how influential they are.  On Saturday, Education Minister and PNU pointman Sam Ongeri campaigned for Joel Onyancha at a church function at Tendere SDA Church and later toured the constituency.

Prof Ongeri and ODM’s leading light, Public Works Minister Chris Obure will be the men to watch as the campaigns progress. While PNU is relying on Ongeri to deliver the seat, Raila will be expecting nothing short of victory from Obure.

Trade Assistant Minister Omingo Magara is also in the spotlight as the ODM National Treasurer and neighbour to Bomachoge. Party supporters will not forgive him if the seat slips away to their opponents. Mr Magara will also be out to prove to critics that he has no association with a group of Rift Valley MPs said to be fighting ODM from within.

Fielding of former area MP Zephania Nyang’wara through UDM, a party associated with section of Rift valley MPs, is viewed as an attempt to water down ODM’s strength in the region. This theory became more interesting after Mr Nyang’wara defected from ODM at the eleventh hour.

Mr Nyang’wara joined UDM, citing frustration in ODM. He has, however, denied claims Agriculture Minister William Ruto is sponsoring him.

"I have not seen Ruto in a long time. I joined UDM due to frustration in ODM and if anybody is willing to fund me they are welcome. In fact I will approach Raila because UDM is an affiliate of ODM," Mr Nyang’wara says. IIEC has cleared 11 candidates for the August 27 race to the ballot box.

Up to the time his election was annulled by the High Court in Kisii, occasioning the by-election, Onyancha was National Heritage Assistant Minister and the post has remained vacant to date.  PNU will be keen to recapture the seat to boost its numbers in Parliament. This places a lot at stake in the by-election.

Onyancha contested the seat on a Ford-People ticket but later switched to PNU. Raila’s party, on the other hand, will be aiming to gain the numbers after it lost to PNU in the Embakasi by-election. Critics argue that ODM lost the Bomachoge seat in the last general election due to the manner in which they handled the nominations. Prominent party personalities from the two parties are expected to tour the constituency ahead of the election to drum up support for their respective candidates. A win for ODM will assert the supremacy of Obure and Magara in the region’s politics while a win for PNU will dim their political stars and boost Ongeri’s image.

Since the retirement of Simeon Nyachae from mainstream politics, debate has been raging over who should step into his shoes as Abagusii political power broker and perhaps spokesman. The power vacuum left by Mr Nyachae has been evident in the continued wrangling among the local MPs for supremacy.

Nyachae’s absence from the political scene has also negatively impacted on Ford-People, a party he helped found in 2002. Although he is out of sight, observers claim Nyachae still wields some clout as politicians continue to consult him. Mr Nyachae announced his retirement from active politics but offered to play an advisory role to younger politicians. It will, therefore, be interesting to see whether he openly campaigns for his party candidate – Mr Albert Nyaundi.

Nyaundi formerly of Ford-Kenya will be vying for the seat the second time after he contested in 2007. Leading the Ford-People campaign in Bomachoge is former minister Henry Obwocha the acting party Secretary-General and the Organising Secretary Reuben Makuko.

The two have accused Onyancha of betraying the party that helped him politically."Onyancha has not officially resigned from our party as required by the law. But we now have an able substitute," Mr Obwocha said.

Obwocha asked Bomachoge constituents to be wary of goodies that PNU would dish out to influence votes.Ms Karua’s Narc-Kenya has fielded Omweno Ombasa and the former outspoken Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs is expected to hit the campaign trail in the constituency next week. Other candidates are Cyprian Nyamwamu (Safina), Lugard Obondi (Kaddu), Credius Oigara (Kenda), Ontiri Machana (New Democrats) and Ezekiel Migiro (KSC).