Kakamega Woman Rep seat attracts three perennial rivals
Long-time sworn political rivals are out to prove their mettle at the ballot as they seek the Kakamega Woman Representative seat.
Incumbent Elsie Muhanda, Nominated Senator Naomi Shiyonga and former senior county employee Peninah Mukabane are engaged in a fierce battle for the position.
The three have not been on good terms for years and rarely share a podium, with each accusing the other of plotting their downfall.
It all started in 2013 when Muhanda and Mukabane were appointed by Governor Wycliffe Oparanya as County Executive Committee members.
The CECs immediately started engaging in all manner of rivalries that caught the attention of Oparanya who kept reshuffling them.
He later dropped both of them ahead of the 2017 election.
Muhanda successfully ran for Woman Rep while Mukabane made her way back to the county government as a Gender Advisor in the Office of the Governor.
Meanwhile, Shiyonga was nominated to Senate by ODM.
Mukabane kept accusing Muhanda of fighting her when they both served in the county government, claims she repeated yesterday.
“I could not work well because she (Muhanda) kept antagonising me and saying all manner of dirty things about me to anybody who cared to listen,” she said.
Not scared
Mukabane appears to be the Kenya Kwanza automatic candidate.
Muhanda looks favoured as ODM’s flag-bearer while Shiyonga is running on a DAP-Kenya ticket, both under the Azimio la Umoja movement.
Mukabane is backing the candidacies of Senator Cleophas Malalah, who is seeking the governorship, and his predecessor Boni Khalwale, who wants to reclaim the Senate seat.
Muhanda is rallying behind ODM governor aspirant Fernandes Barasa while Shiyonga is supporting Lugari MP Ayub Savula.
All the three aspirants exuded confidence yesterday with each vowing to teach the other “a political lesson”.
“I am not scared of my opponents at all. This County is very big and the structures that I have put in place can not be shaken easily,” said Muhanda.
She added: “Let them talk while I work on the ground. I am out to silence them and force them to retire from politics.”
Central Kakamega
Shiyonga said she was proud of her service as a nominated senator.
“I have performed very well both at the county level and in the Senate. Our people should ask what my opponents have done for them for the many years they have worked in the county government and at the national level,” she said.
Shiyonga hails from the Malava Constituency which has the highest number of votes in the county. Teaming up with Savula could boost her support in Lugari and Likuyani constituencies.
Muhanda hails from Ikolomani but is married in the neighbouring Shinyalu while Mukabane comes from Shinyalu and is married in Lurambi. All three hail from the Central Kakamega zone.
It remains to be seen if their battles would work in favour of businesswoman Sarah Netia who is also seeking the seat but hails from Northern Kakamega.
In the neighbouring Vihiga County, Woman Rep aspirant Ruth Bukachi yesterday got a boost after the Terik community living in Vihiga vowed to support her political ambitions.
The Abamukola community from West Bunyore led by the elders also endorsed Bukachi for Vihiga Women Rep in the ceremony held at her home in Emukola village.
Minority community
The Terik community leaders from Banja, Tambua, Gisambai and Jepkoyai wards led by their secretary-general Rev John Chebseba paid a courtesy call on Bukachi, a cardiovascular surgeon, at her home in West Bunyore in Emuhaya where they assured her of their support.
Bukachi will run as an independent candidate after ditching Deputy President William Ruto’s UDA.
They said the Terik community, which is a minority in Vihiga county, had been neglected by the current leadership.
“According to what she is doing to us in Hamisi sub-county, were assure her our support and we will mobilise our people to vote her,” said Chepseba.
Bukachi, who has campaigned extensively in Hamisi, said she is hopeful of winning the seat.
Bukachi also met members of the Luo community living in Vihiga County led by Michael Odinga.
Bukachi will face off with, among others, the incumbent Beatrice Adagala of ANC, Mary Amalemba, Winnie Majani(ODM), Abisai Nancy, Afandi Lugalo and Violet Bagada.
