ODM shuffles Bomachoge campaign team ahead of polls

By Robert Nyasato and James Mbaka

Kisii, Kenya: The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has moved to stem internal rebellion by re-organising campaign teams steering the Bomachoge Borabu parliamentary by-election.

There had been disquiet among ODM leaders from Kisii over composition of campaign teams with a section of them feeling isolated.

Divisions among the leaders had undermined the campaigns for its candidate Peter Kimori, giving main rivals Albert Nyaundi (Ford People) and Joel Onyancha (TNA) an edge in the lead up to the December 19, mini poll.

In a move seen as a response to the emerging cracks, Orange House has now named Bomachoge Chache MP Simon Ogari to lead the vote hunt for Kimori replacing his Kitutu Masaba counterpart Timothy Bosire. Despite being a first-timer in the august House, Bosire is among former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s closest allies from the region.

However, the decision to task Mr Ogari was informed by the fact he represented the larger Bomachoge constituency in the Tenth Parliament before it was split into Chache and Borabu, which gives him advantage to revive his networks to deliver the seat. Notably, he trounced Onyancha in a by-election in 2010 following a successful election petition he mounted.

The divisions were so apparent that the Bomachoge Borabu sub-branch of the ODM Youth League had decamped in support of United Democratic Forum (UDF) candidate Josiah Maaga citing non inclusion.

Another issue at hand that is likely to jeopardise ODM’s chances of winning the seat is a decision by the Kisii County Government to take a back seat in the electioneering on grounds it was serving the interests of all county residents irrespective of political party affiliations.

“We are taking a political stand in the campaigns because as a government we are serving all residents equally,” Kisii Governor James Ongwae said in an interview with The Standard.

Interestingly, Mr Ongwae’s deputy Joash Maangi, who hails from Bomachoge, has been skeptical of his support for the ODM candidate after the party gave Kimori direct nomination leaving out other aspirants who have since decamped to other parties posing an apparent threat to the Orange party’s chances.

“It is true the situation on the ground is not favourable to us after we failed to hold primaries so that the electorate would participate in the process of picking their choice,” Maangi told The Standard.