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Daggers drawn in Gusiiland between Raila and Kibaki

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Published on Monday, 04 June 2007 01:49
FORD-People MPs from Kisii have found themselves in a catch-22-situation ahead of this year’s General Election. Consequently, on Thursday at a press conference, they declared their support for President Kibaki’s re-election on whichever party he opted for. They also said they would seek re-election on their party’s ticket. In the public domain, it is assumed that Kibaki will most seek re-election on a Narc-Kenya ticket where majority of his backers are. Back in Kisii, Narc-Kenya interim officials led by former nominated MP Mrs Catherine Nyamato have already moved a step forward by identifying candidates to face the incumbent MPs. "There is no cause for alarm. We will agree that the party President Kibaki will seek re-election on does not field candidates in Gusiiland and we are working out on a well thought out formula to avoid conflicts," said Kitutu Chache MP Mr Jimmy Angwenyi. But Nyamato, who will be trying to oust Cabinet minister Mr Henry Obwocha, does not agree. "We are taking the MPs head on. It is up to them to choose between defecting officially to Narc-Kenya or face us at the ballot," she said. Nyamato spoke at the Gusii Institute of Technology where she chaired a consultative meeting with prospective aspirants drawn from Kisii, Nyamira and Gucha districts. She said the party was preparing the ground to win all the seats. No three-piece voting again But will the MPs, without their party leader Mr Simeon Nyachae offering himself for presidency as he did in the last General Election — making it easy for all those who sought elective positions on his party’s ticket — carry the day? "Oh yes. Our voters will not be confused to do a three-piece voting pattern as they did when Nyachae was seeking the presidency. We will educate them on how to vote for Kibaki on whichever ticket and then MPs and civic leaders on Ford-People tickets," says Angwenyi. Meanwhile, Lang’ata MP Mr Raila Odinga has vowed to deliver all the 32 parliamentary seats in Nyanza on ODM-Kenya ticket. "We have put in place a mechanism that will see ODM-Kenya scoop all the 32 seats in Nyanza Province," said Raila during his campaign meeting in Kisii. Raila’s candidature received a major boost from the three communities residing in Nyanza, the Kisiis, Luos and Kurias after they agreed to rally behind him for the ODM-Kenya ticket and the presidency. "We as the Nyanza People have been used to deliver victory to leaders from other tribes but time is ripe that leadership came to us now," said former Cabinet minister Mr Chris Obure. Speaking soon after a consultative meeting at Awendo, the leaders who included South Mugirango MP Mr Omingo Magara, former Assistant minister Mr Joseph Kiangoi and Mr Timothy Bosire, the Kisii delegation vowed to stick with Raila to the end. "We will own the Raila for President campaign and take it to other communities outside Nyanza and market him there," said Chris Bichage who read the statement. Raila consolidating base The delegation from Kuria District led by Prof Sarima Chache, and Mr John Magahigwa, also promised to stand by Raila. "We have been divided by forces from outside Nyanza for many years but this time round, we will stand to be counted with Raila as victors or losers," vowed Magahigwa. It also emerged at the Awendo meeting that Raila has in his basket almost all the leading ODM-Kenya lights from the province, a fact that has left his rivals for the party’s presidential ticket with only political lightweights to bank on. ODM-Kenya presidential aspirants, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, Mr William Ruto, Mr Musalia Mudavadi, Mr Najib Balala, Ms Nazlin Umar and Dr Julia Ojiambo are yet to tour Nyanza Province in readiness for the June’s nomination. Daggers have already been drawn and Kisii land will most likely be a battle zone between President Kibaki and Raila. Nyachae will most likely follow his MPs’ move to back Kibaki and he will face Magara’s ODM-Kenya brigade for the community’s vote. "We will teach them a lesson to remember. They joined a government they were never meant to be part of and we want to convince the Omugusii that they stand to win by identifying themselves with the ODM-Kenya team," says Magara. Nyachae, who was re-elected to head his party two weeks ago for another four-year term, will automatically use his resources and influence to deliver votes to Kibaki and ensure that his candidates are re-elected. Kisii and Kuria will attract much attention in Nyanza given that Luo Nyanza is a foregone conclusion as a Raila turf. What kind of campaign strategies they will put in place will tell as the clock towards the December General Election ticks.