Why Mathare mini poll is no ordinary political duel

Nairobi, Kenya: The Mathare by-election slated for August 7 will be no ordinary contest since the constituency falls in the country’s capital, where the Jubilee and CORD coalitions would want to upset the other to demonstrate political might.

Jubilee currently controls the city’s parliamentary politics, with nine of the 17 seats and will be seeking to regain Mathare. CORD, which has the majority in the Nairobi County Government Assembly, has only seven parliamentary seats.

The Mathare seat fell vacant following the Supreme Court’s ruling on May 23, that upheld the Court of Appeal’s decision nullifying election of George Wanjohi, following a petition by Steve Kariuki of ODM.

“Control of Nairobi politics is the dream of either side of the political divide because the city has a major influence on national politics,” says Dr Martin Mulwale of Maseno University.

The contest comes at a time of heightened political tension between the two coalitions over national dialogue and the official campaign period will fall in the aftermath of the expected Saba-Saba rallies.

Direct nominations

To demonstrate how serious each side has taken the Mathare contest, those destined to lead campaigns on either sides are no political lightweights.

CORD’s campaign team is headed by Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, and comprises Nairobi ODM chairman George Aladwa, former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo and coalition MPs from the city.

“We have given direct nomination to Steve Kariuki and we will be meeting this week to roll out our campaign plans,” Ndolo said. Ford-Kenya and the Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM), which are members of CORD, are supporting the ODM candidate.

By fielding Kariuki, CORD hopes to eat into the Jubilee support (Kikuyu voters) while retaining its bedrock support of Luos and Luhyas, who have a sizeable population in the constituency.

Raging debate

Jubilee has Starehe MP Maina Kamanda and Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko as team leaders in the campaigns. There has been a raging debate in TNA on whether Wanjohi should be given direct nomination or the seat be subjected to primaries

Kamanda said the party was nearing a compromise on a candidate who will be announced tomorrow (Monday). Outside the CORD and Jubilee orbit, Mathare has an independent candidate in Gor Semelang’o, former chairman of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund.

The Mathare by-election will be held alongside that of Gatundu South. Voters in Gatundu South will be heading back to the polls following the death of Ngugi Nyumu on May 21. There will also be a by-election in Kibiri County Assembly Ward (Karachuonyo Constituency, Homa-Bay County) on the same day.