Arati pick for running mate could turn tables on Ongeri
By Robert Osoro
The announcment by Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati that Nyaribari Chache MP Robert Monda will be his running mate could radically alter the battle for Kisii governorship with indications the sharing of seats among clans could play a key role in the next year’s polls.
In the race to succeed James Ongwae, Arati has teamed up with Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka who will run for the Senate seat.
Ongwae hails from the Abagetutu clan and there is growing clamour that the seat be rotated to a different sub-tribe a situation that favours Arati to the discomfort of the governor who backs Senator Sam Ongeri from the Nyaribari clan.
Onyonka and Ongwae come from the same Abagetutu clan.
Arati has intensified campaigns in the county where he has opened several Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) offices. Before Arati’s entry into the contest, it was widely perceived that the 83-year-old Ongeri, the country’s oldest lawmaker, would clinch the ODM ticket. However, the age factor seems to be turning the tide against his candidature.
Monda was thrust into the public limelight after he ousted former Ford People leader Simeon Nyachae in the 2007 polls. Monda has started wooing his Nyaribari clansmen to rally behind Arati.
Divide votes
David Omato, an expert in strategic management says the picking of Monda to deputise Arati is meant to tap into the support of the populous Kamba nane (eight strings) sub-groups of the larger Nyaribari clan.
Kamba nane, a conglomeration of clans that straddle both Nyaribari Masaba and Chache constituencies comprise; Bomobea, Bonyamasicho, Bonyameyio, Bonyakoni, Mwamonda, Bogeka, Mwaboto and Mwamoriango.
“Politics is about numbers and that is why Arati wants a share of the Abanyaribari andAbagetutu votes by picking Monda and Onyonka,” Omato told People Daily.
In Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) records, the county has 546,580 registered voters with the two Kitutu constituencies of North and South which will be Onyonka bedrock coming to the Arati alliance with 109,682 voters while Nyaribari Chache and Masaba and Chache have 136,682 voters. The likely situation in case Ongeri goes to the primaries with the Arati-Onyonka-Monda triumvirate, the senator would certainly divide the Nyaribari votes with the former Nyaribari Chache MP.
Omato says the key contestants for the governorship from the Nyaribari clan, namely Ongeri, Nyaribari Masaba MP Ezekiel Machogu and activist Racheal Otundo could divide their bloc.
He says that Ongeri and Machogu, who hail from Boguche clan, which has dominated the area politics for long, will scramble for the votes with Otundo and Monda, who come from the Kamba nane clan.
Ongera, who like Arati comes from the Bobasi clan, is part of the Ongwae-Ongeri axis. She has vowed to support Ongeri if he defeats her during the ODM primaries.
Maangi, who is associated with Deputy President Willliam Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance ( UDA) party has also started whipping the Kitutu clan.
He is the only aspirants from the Bomachoge larger-Borabu and Chache which has a block of 90,826 registered voters. Maangi told a gathering in Marani sub-county to support his gubernatorial bid.
“Do not allow some leaders to come from outside to insult Ongwae. He has tried and we are still working” Maangi said.
David Moracha, a politician commentator, says it is necessary for aspirants from Gucha zone to unite and field one candidate.
He said that Ababasi, Abamachoge and Abagirango have to agree on a compromise candidate regardless of his or her party affiliation to face political rivals from the Central region
In Kitutu Chache South, Kitutu Chache North, Nyaribari Chache, Nyaribari Masaba and Bonchari constituencies.
“We invited Dr Monda to join us to ensure that the Abanyaribari clan is accommodated in the our leadership matrix. He has experience having served as an MP, a strong development track record and has no issues of integrity. But our window is still open,” Arati said.
In South Mugirango, former area MP Manson Oyongo, who is the Kenya National Congress party leader and Omingo Magara, the UDA treasurer will scramble for 67,345 votes from their bloc.
Nominations
Obure, Oyongo vied for the seat in 2017 and lost to Ongwae. Monda, has appealed to Ongeri and Machogu to shelve their gubernatorial ambitions for county and support Arati. Machogu and Ongeri come from the same Boguche clan.
“Arati has roped in the Kitutu clan through Onyonka and we have started campaigns. It will be difficult for Ongeri and Machogu to catch up with us and they better support us before it is too late,” said Monda.
Monda who hails from the populous Mwanyangore (Kamba nane (eight strings) clans said the political supremacy battle for Ongeri and Machogu, who hail from Boguche clan will affect them if they fail to agree, stressing Kamba nane has more votes to propel Arati to the seat.
“We are looking for a woman representative to complete our team. The aspirants will be subjected to nominations and who will pick the best. The party will accommodate losers and reward them after the election” Monda said.
He told Machogu to stop blaming him for playing a second fiddle to Arati and likening him to a person who has stopped chasing a deer and opted for a grasshopper. Given the new arithmetic, there is a strong likelihood that the Arati team will pick a running mate from one of the Bomachoge clan where Maangi hails.
