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Political allegiance in Gusii

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Published on Monday, 04 June 2007 04:20
The first decade of independence saw a pitched battle for supremacy between then MPs Lawrence Sagini (Kitutu) and James Nyamweya ((Nyaribari). The two were perennially antagonistic and, when Joseph Murumbi stepped down as VP, there was talk that Sagini threatened to lead a revolt if Nyamweya was appointed to replace him.

Later, Sagini was ousted by Dr Zachary Onyonka, who had just returned from the US with a PhD in Economics and Planning. The rivalry between the Nyaribari people and the Kitutu clan took a new turn with the rising influence of Nyaribari’s Mr Simeon Nyachae.

Although he was a PC in Central Province, Nyachae became increasingly powerful and it soon turned out that they did not see eye to eye with Nyamweya. In the 1979 elections, Andrew Omanga, perceived as a Nyachae protÈgÈ, ousted Nyamweya.

Nyachae’s influence grew when he was appointed Chief Secretary. He was particularly at odds with Onyonka, who claimed that Nyachae required all Kisii MPs wishing to visit the President to seek clearance from him (Nyachae). In the 1985 grassroots elections, a group perceived to be pro-Nyachae routed out Onyonka and his entire team in polls that saw Sagini elected.


This set the stage for a lengthy rivalry between Nyachae and Onyonka. The rivalry was exacerbated by the latter’s incarceration at Kodiaga Prison after a man, Uhuru Ndege, was killed during a violent campaign incident.

When Onyonka realised that Nyachae had trained his eyes on politics, he rallied several MPs, namely David Onyancha, Omanga and Chris Obure into his camp. MPs Abuya Abuya, Atebe Marita and Reuben Oyondi remained neutral.

A series of rallies were held across Kisii starting with the one at Kebirigo market to popularise what was then named the 4-Os camp — Obure, Onyancha, Omanga and Onyonka. Onyonka led the 4-Os in declaring that Kisii MPs were united behind President Moi and were opposed to what they termed "a wealthy man who was out to unseat popular leaders" in the impending1988 election.

They came up with what they termed the ‘Kebirigo Declaration’ in which those loyal to the President resolved to handle their issues directly with the Head of State without referring to any mediator. They also resolved that no political interference would be tolerated in other people’s constituencies.


Their campaign seemed to have borne fruit when Nyachae was barred from vying for the new Nyaribari-Chache constituency. Omanga won the seat. In Nyaribari Masaba constituency, Prof Sam Ongeri, a new entrant, beat Dr Hezron Manduku, who was seen as being in the Nyachae camp. In Bonchari, Dr Protus Kebati took the seat while David Ondimu Kombo was elected in South Mugirango.

In Bobasi, Obure made it while in Bomachoge constituency, Zedekia Magara held sway. In Kitutu-Chache Onyonka went in unopposed while in Kitutu Masaba, Momanyi Bwo’Otieno went in place of Abuya. In North Mugirango, Atebe lost to Nyarangi Moturi while Onyancha was elected unopposed in West Mugirango. So the Onyonka camp appeared to have achieved a clean sweep.
However, their victory was short-lived as Moi turned to Nyachae to marshal the troops in Kisiiland in the first multi-party polls in 1992.


The entire Onyonka team was duly swept out with Nyachae moving in on a clean slate with a new team. But in 1997, the former losers bounced back with Ongeri winning Nyaribari-Masaba and Obure claiming Bobasi. Once again, Ongeri, Kombo, Omanga, Onyancha and Obure reclaimed their supremacy. Before the 1997 elections, Onyonka died, but Ongeri sustained the momentum.

Nyachae’s electoral success could be attributed to his time as head of the civil service when he was seen as the savior of the community and the force behind most development projects. Onyonka, on the other hand, was a skilled orator who also commanded the respect of other MPs.

The one exception to the Onyonka-Nyachae dominance in Kisii was the late George Moseti Anyona, who was elected in 1992, beating Momanyi Bwo’Otieno. Anyona benefited immensely from sympathy votes having just been released from detention. Anyona, who formed his own political party, the Kenya Social Congress, failed to influence the election of any other MP from Gusii land.

His fortunes changed when, in 2002, he refused to join Nyachae’s new Ford-People bandwagon and paid with his seat. Nyachae, who had months earlier fallen out with President Moi decided to go it alone and influenced a sweep of all 10 Kisii constituencies. All those who had been rated highly, among them the then Cabinet ministers Ongeri (Health) and Obure (Finance) and Assistant minister Joseph Kiangoi, lost miserably.

The Nyachae wave saw many budding politicians, among them Kitutu Masaba’s Mr Mwancha Okioma, Mr Joel Onyancha (Bomachoge) and a perennial contestant Mr Okeri Masanya, win by a landslide.
Since 2002, the situation in Kisii has changed somewhat. Nyachae’s position is yet to crystalise and South Mugirango MP, Mr Omingo Magara, has emerged as a key player in ODM-Kenya.

His endorsement by a section of leaders has, however, seen Ongeri and Nyamweya up in arms, saying they would look for alternatives if Magara becomes the ODM-Kenya leader in the region.