Kombo concedes defeat as loss dims Amani future

By ROSELYNE OBALA and GRACE WEKESA

KENYA: The outcome of the Bungoma by-election will not be good news for Jubilee and Amani coalitions in Western region.

The two coalitions may have to look elsewhere outside Bungoma in attempts to consolidate political support in the region.

Amani leader Musalia Mudavadi, perceived as the Luhya political kingpin, comes out as a leader struggling to comand following in his home turf.

Pundits say Jubilee and Amani will have to go back to the drawing board to strategies on how to make an entry in the region, an area predominantly a Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) zone.

Western voters remain key in shaping national politics but have never voted as a bloc despite their numbers, except in 2002 when they backed the late former Vice-President Kijana Wamalwa.

Despite Mudavadi vying for the presidency in the March 4 General Election, the luhya community overwhelming voted for CORD leader Raila Odinga.

The victory of Moses Wetang’ula, who is also a CORD co-principal, is a game changer in the politics of the region. The by-elections had attracted four candidates — Wetangula, Amani’s Musikari Kombo, Labour party’s Bifwoli Wakoli and independent candidate David Makali.

The by-election was occassioned by a successful petition filed by  Kombo. Makali says the by-election came out as a battle of titans. However, he remains optimistic that in the next election, he would have an upper hand. Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale, who chose to back Wetang’ula, going against UDF, said the win will help chat the political course of Western.

“We came from different political parties to support Wetang’ula. This shows that his candidature is beyond his party and coalition and will give the  community a new political direction,” he said.

Battle of titans

Wetangula argued that his election was not pitting him against Kombo but a contest between Jubilee/Amani and CORD.

Bondo University lecturer Samuel Okuro says Wetangula is the biggest winner is the by-election.

“He has proven crystal clear that he has following and is capable of mobilising the people of Western region in one direction,” he said.

“He is the man to watch. He has demonstrated that he has political weight,” said Dr Okuro.

 Meanwhile, Kombo has conceded defeat to Wetang’ula. Speaking at his Webuye home a day after the official results were announced, he said: “I want to thank Bungoma residents for carrying out peaceful polls. For those who voted for me I pass my appreciation. For those who didn’t vote for me, I commend them all for exercising their democratic right and look forward to working with them in future.’’

He said the campaign journey was difficult because of allegations of massive voter bribery and intimidation.   However, Kombo insisted his opponents should not rule him out just yet in future elections.