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Tricky Contest for Obwocha, the Emerging Local Kingpin
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- Published on Monday, 02 July 2007 05:18
Following the recent creation of Masaba District, some sections of the district, mainly from Borabu and Kitutu Masaba have been proposed to be hived out of Nyamira. Mr Obwocha has held West Mugirango for three consecutive terms, first being elected on a Ford Kenya ticket in the first multi-party elections in 1992, retaining it on the same ticket in 1997 and again in 2002, this time on Mr Nyachae's Ford People ticket.
It is not clear on the ground whether the people of West Mugirango are going to vote for Mr Obwocha because some express optimism that he would take over from Mr Nyachae as a uniting force for Gusii leaders after the Roads minister retires. But even without the issue of Mr Nyachae's retirement, his Ford People, which own all the Kisii seats and has moved into President Kibaki's Government of National Unity, is facing a fierce onslaught from ODM Kenya which dominated the regions vote 2005 constitutional referendum.
The coming elections will present in the Kisii districts a major showdown between ODM-K and Ford People, which is still struggling to keep its separate identity despite an alliance in the government with Nark Kenya. Another complication is that the performance of Ford People in the area at the 2002 elections was largely influenced by Mr Nyachae's [residential candidacy. It is almost certain know that Mr Nyachae will not be standing for president and will instead back a second term for President Kibaki. In which case the local people this time might not feel all that constrained to solidly back Ford People, which could work o the detriment of Mr Obwocha and and all other party candidates in the region.
Among the top contenders in the constituency are Nairobi-based lawyer Denis Abincha, who previously supported Mr Obwocha but says it is his turn this time round. With Mr Abincha is a crowd which is seeking ODM-K nominations. They include Dr James Gesami, Dr Erneo Nyakiba, Mr Joseph Rioba, Mr Daniel Ombachi and Mr Fred Makamara. The battle for Narc-K nomination pits former nominated MP Mrs Catherine Nyamato, who performed credibly on the Ford Asili ticket in 2002, and retired banker Mr Stephen Mogaka.
Others on the race but have not declared their parties are Mr Charles Rigoro, Mr Charles Ongoto, Mr Mong'are Okong'o and Mr John Nyagarama. The campaigns of West Mugirango are likely to centre on collapsing coffee and dairy industries and the bleak future of the tea industry. Mr Abincha was the Orange 'No' team leader during the referendum campaigns in Nyamira district and he will peg his campaigns on his participation in building churches, schools and tea buying centres.
He is banking on support from the Bonyamatuta clan where he comes from but believes he will garner support from other clans. He accuses the incumbent, Mr Obwocha, of failure to improve the quality of education, neglecting health facilities, failure to address the issue of unemployed youth, mismanagement of CDF, failure to provide clean water and electricity to the people of West Mugirango. The chair of Federation of Women Groups ( FWG), Mrs Nyamato was nominated to Parliament after she quit the Democratic Party to join Kanu, although she was poised to take the West Mugirango seat in 1992.
Generally, it seems that the Ford-P wave that determined the winners of parliamentary and civic seats West Mugirango and the Gusii districts as a whole is fading away.
Mr Obwocha, however, still has the upper hand in his constituency, especially with the large number of contenders that are likely to split the challengers votes.
