Kisii leaders struggle for political direction

By Beauttah Omanga

The sensational claim of a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Raila Odinga, where Cabinet Minister Prof Sam Ongeri’s name was mentioned ,has once again rekindled the ever-present divisions among Kisii politicians.

While the claims are under police investigation, sharp reactions of the allegation by Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo has elicited tension and division among Kisii politicians and the larger Nyanza province.

With the departure of former influential Cabinet Minister Simeon Nyachae, the Kisii’s over a million votes are a free for all.

Prof Ongeri reacted with fury as did MPs Walter Nyambati, Wilfred Ombui and Robert Monda who felt the mention of Ongeri amounted to an onslaught on the community.

political tensions

 "Why should Midiwo go to a funeral to claim an alleged assassination plot before passing the same information to police?" posed former Cabinet Minister Henry Obwocha.

Obwocha who is the Ford-People chairman defended Ongeri saying the allegations were likely to ignite political tensions between the Kisii and the Luo.

 Nyambati said the Kisii felt insulted adding: "It sounds more of a political gimmick aimed at destroying Ongeri".

Ombui termed the alleged plot a political game and character assassination of Ongeri who was recently appointed Foreign Affairs Minister. 

"It is very clear it has all to do with Ongeri’s new role as the country chief diplomat in an election year," noted the North Mugirango MP and Tourism Assistant Minister.

 But Kisii leaders allied to Raila said it was a diversionary tactic of dragging the entire community into the Ongeri-Midiwo feud.

South Mugirango MP, Manson Nyamweya, who is emerging as Raila’s pillar in Kisii, Ongeri is not the community and that the community is not Ongeri.

 "Prof Ongeri has indicated he will take legal action and he should let the law take its course but dragging the community into the saga and giving it a political face is totally unacceptable," added Nyamweya.

 Rarieda MP, Nicholas Gumbo, laughed off claims of tension between the two communities.

 "The communities have matured politically far from what Kibunjia claimed," said Gumbo.

G7 woes

That Kisii politicians are still divided was also evident recently forcing a well-publicized G7 rally to be postponed where two ICC suspects were scheduled to attend.

 The stage was set for both Uhuru and Ruto to lead their troops to Kisii for prayer rallies but canceled the plans due to fallout between the local leaders.

 Current MPs allied to G7 felt short-changed when the entire organisational task was left to former South Mugirango MP, Omingo Magara.

Efforts to get Magara’s comment were fruitless as his could not be reached on phone and he did not reply our messages.

Political wrangles aside, presidential hopefuls who have visited the region include, Raila, Kalonzo Musyoka, George Saitoti, the embattled ODM deputy leader Musalia Mudavadi, Martha Karua and Peter Kenneth.

Tuju visit

Party of Action presidential candidate Raphael Tuju cancelled a visit to the region a month ago and his secretariat has not indicated when he will tour Kisii.

In the last elections, ODM bagged majority votes thanks to efforts of Magara who is now rooting for the G7 team.

That the PM takes Kisii region seriously is evident with the appointment of former PS Ongwae to head his presidential campaign team.

With no dominant political player from the region, MPs are angling themselves to different presidential aspirants from various parties.

It is not clear whether the region will unite to identify one presidential candidate to support in the polls.