Kinango braces for duel between workhorse Rai and ‘digital’ opponents

Kinango MP Gonzi Rai addressing members of the Coast Jubilee Movement during its official launch at Star of the Sea High School on October 8, 2016. He will seek re-election in this year's polls. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Rai was an assistant minister for land in the Kibaki Cabinet between 2008 and 2013 and served as the vice-chairman of Ford People.
  • Thousands of poor students have benefited from Mr Rai’s contributions including his personal funds.
  • He is able to mingle with anyone from any class and age, a fact that has endeared to with the majority rural folks.

The Coast region longest serving politician Samuel Gonzi Rai is not about to surrender his Kinango parliamentary seat yet and is a strong contender in the August 8 poll.

Mr Rai, a former Land assistant minister, has won elections in the constituency for four terms, amounting to 20 years.

He became MP in the 1992 election on a Kanu ticket following the death of Ali Bidu but after serving one term, he was edged out from the seat by Simeon Mwero Mkalla in 1997.

In 2002, the soft spoken Mr Rai recaptured the seat on a Ford People ticket and successfully defended it in 2007, still on a Ford People ticket.

Mr Rai who is well versed in both Quran and the Bible in the constituency with a mixture of Christians and Muslims carried the day in 2013 on a TNA ticket in region dominated by ODM.

In fact, ODM leader Raila Odinga got about 85 per cent of the presidential votes in Kinango in 2013 vote.

Mr Rai was an assistant minister for Land in the Kibaki Cabinet between 2008 and 2013 and served as the vice-chairman of Ford People.

He has also been a member of Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations in the National Assembly since 2013.

In October 2012, he declared that he would ditch Ford People where he was the vice-chairman to support Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidential bid if he fulfils promises he made to him, one of his demands being that a member of his Duruma community be appointed Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) board chairman.

“My move is based on the promises that the vacant KFS board chairman position should come to Kinango.

"My other demand is that my people should be given top jobs in the various fields where they qualify. Unemployment has been a major problem among the Duruma people,” Mr Rai said then.

PROGRESS-MINDED
Mr Rai however now faces stiff challenge from youthful politicians who want to cash in on a young, rejuvenated generation that increasingly makes the voting bloc.

Mr Rai has been relying on the old voters for the last two decades.

He is also facing an uphill task, facing a strong wave from the opposition party, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

But the hardened, seasoned politician who is blessed with oratory skill and a great grassroots schemer, has weathered and overcome bigger storms before, including court battles.

However, big political upsets have been registered in this country before and that is why the Kinango contest will provide an interesting menu in its own right.

Benjamin Dalu Stephen Tayari, popularly referred to as BDT by his peers and supporters is perceived, like he was in the 2013 General Election, to be Mr Rai’s strongest challenger who can wrestle the incumbent from the seat.

In the 2013 poll, Mr Tayari vying on an ODM ticket lost to Mr Rai after getting 11,427 votes against the incumbent’s 18,707 votes.

Other candidates in the 2013 election on various party tickets were Dume Said Jiwe who got 1,774 votes, Herman Kombo Murabu (2,156), Nathaniel Dalu Mnyika (911), Rama Ndegwa Mwang’ombe (994), Ms Rehmat Nadzua Sebisubi (674) and Siad Mwanyoha Chengo (590).

A total of 37, 233 votes were cast in Kinango. 

Mr Tayari leads that young, digital generation that argues that it has respect for the old man “but we think he should go home and rest now after doing his part”.

The overriding issues in Kinango have been the grinding poverty levels, high school drop-out rate, under-age marriages, unemployment, poor health services, lack of proper infrastructure (with the first ever tarmac road set to be built from Samburu to Kinango this year) and general lack of development.

But Mr Rai should be credited for working hard according to his ability.

Thousands of poor students have benefited from Mr Rai’s contributions including his personal funds.

The number of primary and secondary schools is said to have risen during his tenure from less than 50 to 124 today with secondary schools from two to 14 today.

According to the 2009 national census, Kinango constituency has a population of 209,560.

OLD VS NEW-TIMERS
Mr Rai’s other attributes are his down-to-earth and simple demeanour.

He is able to mingle with anyone from any class and age, a fact that has endeared him to the majority rural folks.

He is also easily available and will give his ear to anyone irrespective of how long it will take.

However, many residents argue that this time round, Mr Rai has to change tactic in order to be able to retain the seat in the face of a challenge from a "digital" generation of aspirants.

“It was easy when voters were the older generation. But today, young people form a sizeable voting bloc. They feel that Mr Rai is old age and monologue. They want him to rest,” said a Kinango resident Samson Bedzame.

But a voter at Taru, Mr Vincent Mwayama, believes that Mr Rai still has a chance of winning the seat arguing that most of the “digital and internet” youth either have no voting cards or do not vote.

Many opponents will divide the vote leading to Mr Rai winning easily.

This factor also could play against the young aspirants’ ambition, he said.

The other factor is that Mr Rai has all along marketed himself as a brand, not affected by party affiliation.

“Kinango people vote individuals and not party because we know we don’t gain much by worshipping a political party,” said Ms Frederick Chiwaya, a resident at Kibaoni in Samburu.

Kinango Constituency is found in the dry hinterland of Kwale County and considered to have the poorest population.

Cattle raring and subsistence farming are the main economic activities.

But it is argued that the efforts of a Member of Parliament alone cannot change things a lot and the real solutions could come from both the national and county governments.

At a recent public rally at Mavirivirini in Mwavumbo location attended by Deputy President William Ruto, Mr Rai defended his track record and why he should be re-elected for a fifth term.

“When I went to Parliament for the first time in 1992, my head was full of hair. Now look, it’s all bald. Why? Because I have served the Durumas all my lifetime and lost even my hair. Will you throw me out because I have served you long? Is that fair?” he posed to roars of approval from the crowd.