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Pushed to the brink by inflated egos
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- Published on Monday, 24 November 2008 10:25
The incident rekindles a past one where a former MP slapped a former Cabinet minister for reportedly undermining Mr Simeon Nyachae, then the leader of the community. At that time, there were two camps — that of Nyachae and another of the late Dr Zachary Onyonka. Supremacy battles have for years remained a sensitive issue as leaders confront each other whenever one seems to be outshining others.
On the one hand, Magara, who is politically senior to Onyonka by virtue of having been an MP for almost 12 years — compared to Onyonka’s first year in Parliament—plays down the issue. On the other hand, Onyonka accuses Magara of allegedly undermining any leader from Kisii who takes the attention of the community from him.
"Magara has a problem with all Kisii leaders. He wants to undermine everyone and act as our prefect. We cannot allow that to happen," he says. He cites a meeting last weekend where Magara hosted leaders from his Kitutu Chache constituency. Among those who attended was Prof Tumbo Oeri, a paternal uncle to Onyonka who does not support him.
But Magara defended the meeting, which he described as purely of Kisii professionals. "I met Oeri as a Kisii scholar. We did not discuss Kitutu Chache politics but the region’s education, the Kisii campus and many other pertinent issues affecting our community. Do I need permission to consult scholars from respective MPs?" poses Magara.
He claims Onyonka has been meeting his political rivals: "I know he has been meeting my rivals in South Mugirango but I have never complained." Differences between Onyonka and Magara date back to last year’s ODM nominations where Magara, who was the senior most party official as national Treasurer, was accused of failing to ensure fair nominations in the region.
While Magara has persistently denied any involvement in determining ODM nominees, some aspirants blame him for their loss. Onyonka defected to little-known People Development Party on whose ticket he won the Kitutu Chache seat. He then affiliated his party with ODM and was appointed an Assistant Minister.
Blue-eyed boy
Sources close to the two leaders told the Standard on Sunday they have been feuding over closeness to Prime Minister Raila Odinga. There are those who see Onyonka as the blue-eyed boy of the Prime Minister. "There are such baseless claims that I have fallen out with the PM. That is mere imagination. Raila listens to all of us and those who think otherwise and go imposing themselves as the PM’s link men in Kisii are cheating themselves," retorts Magara.
Onyonka says: "It is true that I am being fought because of my close association with Raila whom I have supported on crucial matters to the chagrin of some Kisii leaders." On allegations that he was being groomed by Nyachae to take over the mantle, Magara says his newfound association with the former influential minister was merely for the interest of the community and not political.
Bonchari MP Charles Onyancha has called for sobriety between the two MPs, whom he describes as his good friends. "They should not tear into each other over issues of supremacy. We as Kisii leaders respect elders. Nyachae is our elder and he deserves respect from all of us. If he decides to quit as a political leader, then there is Prof Sam Ongeri and Mr Chris Obure in that order, who should be accorded the respect of being the community’s leaders on important issues," said Onyancha, who chairs the Kisii MPs’ forum.
The battles, however, are not new. After independence there was tussling between MPs Lawrence Sagini (Kitutu) and James Nyamweya ((Nyaribari). The two were perennially antagonistic and, when then vice president, Mr Joseph Murumbi, stepped down, there was talk that Sagini threatened to lead a revolt if Nyamweya was appointed to replace him.
Later, Sagini was ousted by Zachary Onyonka, who had just returned from the US after graduating with a PhD in Economics and Planning. The rivalry between the Nyaribari and the Kitutu clans took a new turn with the rising influence of Nyaribari’s Nyachae. On the current conflict, Ongeri says it is unacceptable for any leader to claim to speak for the community when such a position does not exist.
"The Kisii people respect leaders without being coerced. If you are a good leader, who articulates their interests well, they will obviously identify with you," says the Education minister. He notes the Kisii are a closely-knit community and cautions ambitious leaders against politics that will divide them.
"As a community we have a common interest of educating our children, addressing poor road network and poverty. Anything outside that perspective is irrelevant," he says. Obure warns schemes to undermine other leaders within the community had proved futile in the past. With the passing on of Zachary 12 years ago, many thought the political feuds would cease but the young Onyonka and Magara seem determined to trim each other to size.
