Bonchari election nears as IEBC takes papers

By ERIC ABUGA and NAFTAL MAKORI

Five candidates are set to square it out in the Bonchari by-election set for June 23.

It is a contest that will see Ford People party battle it out with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) if their candidates are cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Thursday and Friday.

Candidates set to present their papers are Zebedeo Opore (Ford People), immediate former MP John Oyioka (ODM), David Ogega (Democratic Party), Charles Onyancha (Wiper Party), Charles Mogaka (National Labour Party) and Prof Okioga Charles who has not named his party of choice.

They are expected to present their nomination papers to IEBC at the constituency level on Thursday and Friday, a move that will set the stage for official campaigns to kick-off.

IEBC postponed Bonchari constituency’s by-election two weeks ago from June 3 to June 23.

Bonchari Constituency Returning Officer Peter Resa said the candidates will present their nomination papers and urged them to conduct peaceful campaigns.

“By Friday, we will be able to tell who will be on the ballot papers and announce the official kick off for the campaigns. So far, we have not experienced any ugly incident in the constituency and we commend both the candidates and voters for this,” said Resa.

FOUR CLANS

Bonchari has 65 polling stations with a total of 38,749 registered voters. The constituency is comprised of four major clans – Bomorenda (10,969 voters), Riana (10,749), Bogiakuma (10,109) and Bomariba (6,922).

The constituency, with a total population of 114,615 people, attracted 11 candidates in the last general elections.

Kisii High Court Judge Ruth Sitati declared Oyioka, who was then the  Kanu candidate, the winner of the seat on September 20 and dismissed Opore’s March victory but this was reversed by the Court of Appeal.

Meanwhile, Gianchere Special School in Kisii County has received a donation of Sh1.1 million from I&M Bank to help in completion of a stalled computer laboratory project.

The lab project stalled a few years back due to lack of funds, making it impossible for learners to embrace ICT.

Two years ago, former powerful Cabinet minister Simeon Nyachae donated computers for the school but they are yet to be utilised due to lack of space.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

I&M bank Kisii Branch manager Olga Otani, who gave the cheque, explained that a bank account had been opened in the name of the school. She said the bank management would monitor how the funds are spent.

“We urge the school management to use the funds prudently. We may not wish to be associated with a stalled project. We would monitor how every penny is utilised,” said Otani who was accompanied by Grace Nyachae, wife to the retired Nyaribari Chache MP.

Area MP Richard Tong’i and Kisii businessman Steve Arika also attended the function.

Otani expressed confidence that the computer lab would go a long way in equipping the students with the crucial Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills.

She said the donation was in line with the bank’s corporate social responsibility strategy aimed at investing in the future of the community.