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ODM Factor May Give Magara a Headstart in the Crowded Race
- Details
- Published on Monday, 02 July 2007 04:50
Since Mr Magara broke ranks with the Gusii political supremo, Roads and Public Works minister Simeon Nyachae, to join ODM Kenya where is now closely linked to Lang'ata MP Raila Odinga, the Raila-Nyachae wars might come into play during electioneering. Mr Magara and Mr Mwandawiro Mghanga (Wundanyi) are the two Ford People MPs who defied Mr Nyachae's attempt to drift with them into President Kibaki's Government of National Unity and opted to remain in the Opposition.
Mr Magara is the ODM-K national treasurer and has been closely associated with Mr Odinga, of late having been part of the presidential candidate's entourage on overseas visits. As the key ODM-K pointman in the Gusii region, Mr Magara will come up directly against Mr Nyachae, who is struggling to keep Ford-P as the main political party in the area. The constituency comprises five clans namely Bogetenga, Botabori, Bosinange, Boige and Bogusero which would determine the winning candidates come elections. Each clan has so far presented a candidate, with Bogetenga and Botabori leading with four.
The battle lines for the seat in the next General Election is yet to be defined clearly because, apart from party politics, clans would also determine the winner. The dominant parties in the constituency are Ford-P and ODM-K. Former MP Reuben Oyondi, who is the national vice-chairman of Ford-P and a nominee to the East African Legislative Assembly, may have a hand in determining who wins the battle. Mr Magara comes from the Bosinange clan which is the third largest. He first won the seat in a by-election after the death of his brother Nyankieya Magara in a road accident. The ensuing by-election was a supremacy contest between former President Daniel arap Moi and Mr Nyachae, with the latter's bid to show his grip on Gusii politics coming a cropper. In the General Election of 2002, Mr Magara sailed through despite Mr Nyachae's strong influence in Gusiiland.
Thirteen aspirants
The seat has so far attracted 13 aspirants, with Mr Magara sure to be one of the favourites as he defends his seat on ODM-K ticket. His fight to have the new district headquarters at Nyamarambe may earn him some votes. Nyamarambe is at the centre of the constituency as opposed to Kerina, which had been endorsed by other leaders.
His supporters describe him as a man who is development-oriented and determined to fight for the welfare of his constituents. They say he is a brave leader who stood his ground in the Gusii community by joining the ODM-K. In the run up to the referendum on the draft constitution, Mr Magara stood against all the other nine MPs from the Gusii community and campaigned for the Orange side which dealt a blow to the Banana team.
Despite the rising political temperature in Gusii and with MPs accusing him of betraying Ford-P, Mr Magara has remained steadfast. Mr Magara has initiated various development projects in his constituency through the CDF kitty which include water project, health centres, roads, schools, electricity, just to mention a few. Despite the fact that he has initiated a number of projects, his critics accuse him of politicking at the expense of development. They accuse him of failing to address issues on the ground, especially those touching on farmers. They blame him for concentrating on party politics at the expense of infrastructure in his constituency. South Mugirango is the only constituency in Gusii that is not served with tarmac road. It has always been considered a rural constituency by members of the community.
Kisii soapstone
Apart from being home of the precious Kisii soapstone which adorns sitting rooms worldwide, there is little attraction to the constituency. Some of its schools which used to perform well like Nduru High School and Tabaka High School are currently poor performers in national exams .Perhaps the only remaining attraction to the constituency is Tabaka Mission Hospital which is visited by people from all corners of Gusii. Such issues are likely to feature in the electioneering.
Mr Magara's close competitor is Mr Manson Nyamweya who hails from the Bogetenga clan, which is the biggest in the constituency with four sub-clans. Mr Nyamweya came second on a Kanu ticket in the 2002 General Elections but now seeks to battle for the seat on Ford-P ticket, having joined the party recently. Mr Nyamweya first contested the seat in 1992 on Ford Kenya ticket but lost to Mr Oyondi of Kanu. He then contested the last two elections on the Kanu ticket but lost both times.
Party-hopping
Critics accuse him of party-hopping, but if he gets the Ford-P nomination, he might have his best chance yet - assuming the ODM-K wave does not drown him. A former MP David Ondimu Kombo has also declared interest in the Ford-P ticket. Mr Kombo comes from Bogetenga clan which has so far forwarded four candidates. During his tenure as MP and assistant minister, Mr Kombo is credited with having employed a good number of his constituents in various Government offices and parastatals. However, his rivals allege that he did not initiate any meaning development project in the area.
Others aspirants
Others who have declared their interests in the race include Mr Ibrahim Ochoi, a former principal of Uriri Boys High school Ezekiel Okeng'o who currently is a deputy probation officer Kisii Central, and Mr Samson Bichang'a, a Kenya Wildlife Service employee, who will all vie on Narc-K ticket. Also in the race are a Nakuru-based advocate, Mr Ezekiel Oumo, Mr Justus Aungo Ondari, Dr Rashid Minyong'a, Prof Kepha Morako of Egerton University, Mr Nathan Kiriago who is presently working at the of Directorate Personnel Management, Dr Ezekiel Okemwa and Mr Daniel Apepo, a former chief campaigner of Magara during the 2001 by-election who are yet to declare the parties in which they will contest.
