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A campaign tool for next General Election
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- Published on Monday, 04 June 2007 04:46
The referendum, observers say, offers them the opportunity, and those who read the mood well, may find the going easy in 2007.
The former MPs have teamed up with politicians who want to make a debut in parliamentary elections to advance the Orange agenda.
The former MPs are up against the incumbents, who are in the banana camp, except South Mugirango’s Omingo Magara. They have put aside their party differences to gang up against the MPs. They say they will capitalise on land, presidential powers, Christian courts, and the government’s failure to pass the Bomas Draft in their campaigns to push for a rejection of the Wako version.
Most of them denied they were out to gain mileage from the Wako draft and settle political scores with the incumbents.
Former Cabinet ministers, Prof Sam Ongeri, who represented Nyaribari Masaba on a Kanu ticket, Chris Obure (Bobasi-Kanu) and Joseph Kiangoi (North Mugirango/Borabu-Kanu) are leading the orange campaign in Kisii, Gucha and Nyamira districts.
Ongeri dismissed claims that they are making a comeback through the Orange campaign, saying these were allegations meant to derail the No campaign, "which has been well conceived".
He cited the recent Orange rally in Nyamira as proof that things were rosy for the camp.
The former Health minister who is concentrating on farming at his Gesusu home, says he is opposed to the Wako Draft because it does not represent the wishes of Kenyans as agreed at Bomas.
The leaders are traversing the region, campaigning against the Proposed New Constitution.
For fear of a fall out in 2007 if the Orange team wins, MPs supporting the Yes camp have delayed the launch of their push.
That has given the orange camp the leeway to campaign against the Wako draft.
Kiangoi, who runs his law firm in Nairobi, says the MPs are busy elsewhere, leaving the electorate to orange. The region has 10 MPs and only Magara has declared a No stand.
Others, including Ford People leader, Simeon Nyachae, and party chief whip Henry Obwocha, are in the ‘Yes’ camp. But they are yet to hold rallies to sell the banana agenda.
The MPs, particularly Obwocha (West Mugirango), Mwancha Okioma (Kitutu Masaba), and North Mugirango’s Godfrey Masanya have however, asked the electorate to read the draft first.
Obure, who runs a transport business in Nairobi, accuses Nyachae of failing to consult other leaders before he went to Kilifi to "mutilate" Kenyans’ views.
Ongeri and Nairobi banker, George Anunda of LDP, are opponents of Nyaribari Masaba MP Hezron Manduku. Ongeri and Anunda have conducted intensive Orange campaigns in the constituency.
In Kitutu Chache, MP Jimmy Angwenyi is battling it out with Richard Onyonka, a son of former minister, the late Dr Zachary Onyonka.
Obure, Nairobi lawyer Caleb Onguti, and businessman Ben Oonge have taken on MP Stephen Manoti.
In Bomachoge, MP Joel Onyancha, is facing stiff opposition from former MP Zephania Anyieni in drumming up support for the draft constitution.
Some of the former MPs are optimistic that should the No vote win, they would have a head start in 2007.
