Dilemma for top leaders as allies fight for seats
Eric Wainaina @EWainainah
Party leaders are facing an headache in their strongholds as close allies compete for elective positions with each seeking endorsement.
It is promising to be a delicate balancing act as Deputy President William Ruto, Opposition leader Raila Odinga, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Amani National Congress boss Musalia Mudavadi seek to reward loyalty as well as ensure democracy prevails in their parties in next year’s General Election.
Their close associates have started to jostle for positions in their strongholds, which could pose a dilemma for the party leaders.
The situation played out in Mombasa recently when Raila’s key allies Suleiman Shabhal and Mvita MP Abdulswamad Shariff came out to ask for the ODM leader’s endorsement to succeed Governor Hassan Joho.
“I appreciate my son Abduswamab Sharrif as the MP for Mvita. But the issue of the governor is yours (people of Mombasa). As the ODM leader, I want to say that we will have nominations that are free and fair.
Therefore, it is you who will decide who will be the Governor of Mombasa,” Raila told a crowd, a section of which was chanting that the opposition chief should endorse the MP.
Constitutional lawyer and political commentator Ndegwa Njiru says a major dilemma waits party bosses, especially in area where wealthy and popular allies will be re competing for the same ticket.
According to Ndegwa, there is a likelihood of a fallout if the party leaders will not ensure fair primaries.
Independent candidates
“The foundation of the political parties that we have cannot not guarantee free and fair nominations.
None of them has structures to enable them to deliver such, and therefore, what we will see is parties favouring individuals due to their political capital relating to numerical strength, financial capacity and convenience.
No party will want to have a candidate who will depend on it for financial help. In other instances, we will see cronies being favoured,” Ndegwa told People Daily.
He added: “If a candidate will not get the ticket and they feel shortchanged, they will bolt and contest as independent candidates.
Others will shy away from the primaries altogether and sell themselves as independent candidates because no one wants to be subjected to the embarrassment which happened to some aspirants in 2017.
This will definitely weaken the performance of the main parties.”
While Ruto and his party will have to choose wisely in the Rift Valley where he is the de facto leader, and parts of Mt Kenya, Coast and Western Kenya, Raila’s ODM will have a delicate balancing act pitting the former Prime Minister’s allies in Luo Nyanza, Gusii, Western, Coast, a section of the Maa region and North Eastern.
Kalonzo’s allies in Ukambani region, where the former Vice President commands a sizeable following, are hoping to be endorsed for various seats while Mudavadi is in the same situation in the Western Kenya region.
For instance, Raila will face an uphill task in the Homa Bay County where his close allies, among them former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, area Woman Rep Gladys Wanga and Suba North MP John Mbadi, have declared their intention to succeed outgoing governor Cyprian Awiti.
Mbadi, who is the ODM chairman, has, however, refuted claims the party will favour him due to his position.
“Our party believes in democracy and I will present myself just like other candidates for a contest,” said Mbadi.
Credible primaries
Former Kasipul Kabondo MP Oyugi Magwanga challenged the party to conduct credible primaries.
“You saw what happened in the last election, I believe the time to take over the leadership is now so that the people of Homa Bay can see what I have to offer,” said Magwanga.
In Siaya, which is Raila’s home county, two of his pointmen, Senator James Orengo, who doubles as Leader of Minority in the Senate, and Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, who is the ODM Secretary for Political Affairs, as wells former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo and former auditor General Edward Ouko are embroiled in a do-or-die battle to succeed Governor Cornel Rasanga.
Wandayi has warned that skewed nominations have been a major challenge for ODM.
“ODM nominations have been a problem and ODM leader Raila Odinga himself admitted that our party conducted skewed nominations while we were burying former Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo, but going forward, we shall let those who want to vie for any position in Siaya to do so,” Wandayi said.
Ruto’s home county of Uasin Gishu has attracted his allies Henry Rotich (the former Treasury Cabinet Secretary) and Soy lawmaker Caleb Kositany who are fighting to succeed Governor Jackson Mandago.
The other candidates in the race are former Nairobi County Devolution Executive Vesca Kangogo, former Kanu operative Jonathan Bii, ambassador to Pakistan Julius Bitok, Senate Deputy Speaker Margaret Kamar, businessman Bundotich Kiprop, popularly known as Buzeki, and Kesses MP Mishra Kiprop.
In neighbouring Nandi County, where Governor Stephen Sang is battling allegations of presiding over an incompetent administration, Ruto’s supporter among them lawyer Allan Kosgey, who is the son of former Cabinet minister Henry Koskey, former governor Cleophas Lang’at and area Senator Samson Cherargei are seeking to get the DP’s support for the big seat.
Politicians close to Kalonzo are also angling for key seats in Machakos, Kitui and Makueni counties.
Transport Chief Administrative Secretary Wavinya Ndeti will be fighting out with Mavoko MP Patrick Makau and County Assembly Speaker Florence Mwangangi for the governorship and are hoping to ride on Kalonzo’s political influence.
Kalonzo has already warned politicians who intend to ride on his name to win seats.
“I know there are many governor candidates from my party and I don’t want it to appear like I’m favouring any. Madam Speaker, find your own time to come speak to these people. You have now entered a category of friends who use my name to become governors and dump me,” he said while welcoming Speaker Mwangangi to the contest.
“For anyone to be elected here automatically you must first go outside Ukambani and campaign for me. Because at my age I don’t want a situation where you become a governors and I lose in the presidency and you climbed my shoulders to power,” he said.
Mudavadi’s allies
Kitui senator Enoch Wambua, an ardent Kalonzo defender, has launched a spirited fight to oust governor Charity Ngilu while former county boss Julius Malombe, another Kalonzo ally, is seeking a comeback.
Wiper Party vice-chairman Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior who is also the Senate deputy minority whip and Prof Philip Kaloki are eying the Wiper ticket for Makueni governorship. Both are close friends of the Wiper leader.
Mudavadi also faces a major headache due to the big number of close allies seeking political seats in Kakamega and Vihiga counties, his stroghold.
The biggest battle will be in Kakamega where his close associates including Senator Cleophas Malalah, Lugari MP Ayub Savula and former Cabinet minister Amukowa Anangwe will be waging a battle for the governorship.
In Vihiga, which is Mudavadi’s home county, Senator George Khaniri and Sabatia MP Alfred Agoi will be seeking to remove governor Wilbur Ottichillo. Both men are close allies of Mudavadi who must navigate carefully to avoid upsetting either candidate.
In West Pokot, where DP Ruto has successfully lured area governor John Lonyangapuo from Baringo Senator Gideon Moi’s corner, the battle for the UDA ticket promises to be hotly contested between the incumbent and his processor Simon Kachapin, who is currently serving as a Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Energy while in Bomet, the battle for Ruto’s party ticket will be between Governor Hillary Barchok, former county chief Isaac Ruto, who recently opted to work with the DP, as well as Senator Christopher Langat.
It will also be a tough choice for Raila in Kisumu where Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, a key supporter of the ODM boss, is expected to square it out with Ruth Odinga and Senator Fred Outa. Odinga is Raila’s younger sister.
The Migori race to succeed Governor Zachary Obado has so far attracted several Raila allies including Senator Ochillo Ayacko, Woman Rep Pamela Odhiambo, former Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno, former Nyatike MP Edick Anyanga and former Migori MP John Pesa.
US-based don Mark Ogutu, Migori County Secretary Christopher Rusana, businessmen Seth Odongo, Philip Mwabe and Owiso Ngao, are also in the race.
Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja, another Raila friend, will battle it out with former Wundanyi MP Thomas Mwandeghu and former governor John Mruttu.
Samboja last week hosted Raila for lunch.
A fierce fight is also looming in Kwale where Agriculture Principal Secretary Hamadi Boga, Gender PS Safina Kwekwe, County Assembly Speaker Sammy Ruwa and Isa Chipara will face off with Lunga Lunga MP Katibu Mwashetani and deputy governor Fatuma Achani who are Ruto’s supporters in the contest for governorship.
Uhuru’s hand
While Achani and Ruwa will fight for the ODM ticket, Boga and Kwekwe are yet to declare their party.
While President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to leave office is expected to take interests in elections in key seats mostly in his Central backyard and Nairobi.
Uhuru’s allies like Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi and Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya are likely to find themselves in a vicious battle.
It will be the same in Kisii County for Raila whose allies Senator Prof Sam Ongeri and Women Rep Janet Ong’era will be competing to succeed Governor James Ongwae.
