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Orange Ups The Stakes in Nyachae's Turf
- Details
- Published on Monday, 16 July 2007 23:51
Contrary to the perception that the Nyachae-led 'Yes' campaign has an upper hand, recent realignments cast doubt as to whether Nyachae's word will be taken unchallenged.
Former Cabinet Ministers Sam Ongeri and Chris Obure of Kanu have teamed up with the Nyanza LDP Co-ordinator Mr Orina Momanyi to spearhead the 'No' vote.
At the heart of the vote in Gusii will be issues on presidential powers, provincial administration, land ownership and devolution of government.
As things stand, Nyachae will face a tough battle from his perennial enemies Ongeri, Obure and Joseph Kiangoi.
A campaign machinery by the 'No' team is already recruiting civic leaders and young academicians to help in civic education.
Knowing the sensitivity of the land issue in Kisii, Ongeri and Obure last week met in Nairobi and announced they would support the Orange symbol.
Earlier, Ongeri had wondered whether Kisiis are ready to allow daughters to inherit their father's lands.
"Girls should inherit land where they are married; not where they were born! Or is this what you want?" he asked a charged crowd which responded: "No!" in unison.
Speaking to The Sunday Standard, the former Nyaribari Masaba MP said: "Kenyans fought to change the constitution because they were dissatisfied with the excessive powers vested in the Office of the President.
They sought to devolve the powers of the President to other constitutional bodies to be created by the new constitution. However, to the disappointment of Kenyans, Wako decided to enhance these powers making the presidency an imperial institution."
The combination of LDP and Kanu has complicated the political equation in Gusiiland so much so that some residents are claiming their MPs have deserted them, with civic leaders saying the MPs have failed to show direction.
Elected councillors from the region feel offended that their positions will be rendered useless should they vote for the constitution as proposed.
The abolition of the Provincial Administration is seen as a recipe for disaster as chiefs and their assistants have been at the centre of conflict management and resolution in the villages.
The Abagusii is a community that fears authority and going by the population pressure in the region, the absence of centres of authority like chiefs will create a fertile ground for crime, they argue.
That things will be hard for the 'Yes' campaign was demonstrated last week in North Mugirango, Borabu Kiabonyoru area when the area MP Godfrey Msanya Okerio tried to introduce the 'Yes' campaign.
He was heckled and shouted down by an irate crowd that warned him to either toe the popular line or risk the consequences.Okerio was forced to cut short his address and was whisked away by his aides after the crowed threatened to turn rowdy.
Former MP Joseph Kiangoi, who is leaning towards LDP, is one of the leading lights of the 'No' vote in Nyamira.
He is assisted by Timothy Bosire and Joseph Rioba. Dr Ereneo Nyakiba and Omweri Kibwage carry Kanu's torch in the area.
In Kisii, Ongeri has bagged the support of popular young politicians such as Richard Onyonka and John Anunda both of Kanu, while LDP's Orina Momanyi has George Anunda and Nairobi advocate Fred Orora are on his side.
In neighbouring Gucha, Obure is teaming with advocate Caleb Onguti and businessman Benjamin Oonge of LDP.
Given this array of opposition, the Ford People group, which is fronting the 'Yes' vote, is holding a series of secret meetings to lay counter strategies on how to market the banana.
Henry Obwocha, Mwancha Okioma, Godfrey Masanya, Hezron Manduku, Jimmy Angwenyi, Zebedeo Opore, Joel Onyancha, James Magara and Stephen Manoti are some of the MPs on the 'Yes' side.
