COUNTY POLITICS: Rasanga’s uphill task in trying to defend Siaya gubernatorial seat
The dominant grievance in Siaya is that residents are yet to reap the fruits of devolution.
This is despite the fact the region is the home of some of the foremost champions of the devolved system. They include opposition chief Raila Odinga and Senator James Orengo.
There is an expectation that being former Prime Minister’s home turf, Siaya would have been a model county on devolution.
However, constant bickering among local politicians and corruption have been blamed for the low returns on devolution.
“Blatant and shameless misuse of public funds by the current administration, coupled with the pathetic stagnation of our county is a great concern to us,” said Mr Nicholas Gumbo, the Rarieda MP and chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly.
He goes on; “This is sadly happening as other regional governments are racing to give their people upper to middle class standards of living.”
The Rarieda MP is waging an aggressive campaign to remove Governor Cornell Rasanga in the August 8 poll.
The governor, however, differs with Mr Gumbo’s assertions insisting that the county has recorded progress especially in the expansion of roads as well as equipping health facilities, especially the Siaya Referral Hospital.
THREE FACTORS
The county’s elections will mainly be influenced by three factors: choice of political party, clannism, a sense of disgruntlement over devolution and the shadow of Mr Odinga.
ODM still remains the dominant political party and whoever clinches its ticket in the April 13 nominations will have an edge.
Governor Rasanga is keen on retaining his seat. He is, however, facing stiff opposition from businessman William Oduol, Mr Gumbo as well as former Regional Development PS Carey Orege.
The county has six constituencies: Ugenya represented by David Ochieng, Ugunja (Opiyo Wandayi), Gem (Jakoyo Midiwo), Alego Usonga (Muluan Omondi), Bondo (Gideon Ochanda and Rarieda of Mr Gumbo.
Political analysts in the region believe that Mr Rasanga will face an uphill task to regain his seat.
Notably, four of the MPs who backed the governor in the last election have since abandoned him. Only Dr Oburu Oginga (nominated) and Mr Wandayi are pushing for his re-election.
Dr Ochanda supports Mr Gumbo who enjoys significant support in Sakwa and Yimbo clans of Bondo constituency.
The decision by Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo to withdraw his support for Mr Oduol in favour of Mr Gumbo could however complicate the race for the seat. The other and perhaps more threatening to the governor’s re-election is the candidature of Mr Oduol.
OF CONCERN
In a county where political mobilisation revolves around clans, Mr Oduol’s candidature is of particular concern for the Rasanga camp. Both the governor and Mr Oduol come from the Alego/Usonga clan.
Though Mr Oduol’s popularity and financial muscle has declined over time, he remains a significant political force. The fear, therefore, is that they could split the Alego vote, to the advantage of Mr Gumbo.
The other clans include Sakwa and Yimbo in Dr Ochanda’s Bondo constituency, Ugunja, Ugenya and Gem. There is also Asembo and Uyoma in Rarieda.
Under the arrangement, the Asembo, Uyoma clans are likely to support Mr Gumbo as well as Gem due to Mr Midiwo’s recent endorsement of the Rarieda MP, effectively weakening Mr Oduol.
Dr Ochanda, too, is likely to rally the Sakwa to support Mr Gumbo though Dr Oginga will be seeking to influence the same clan to fight for Mr Rasanga.
There was a debate that Mr Oduol could be named as Mr Gumbo’s running mate, but the businessman has maintained that he will not play second fiddle to anybody.
In the 2013 elections, Mr Rasanga of ODM garnered 138,908 votes against Mr Oduol of the National Agenda Party of Kenya who had 135,413 votes out of the 312,441 registered voters at the time.
LOST AGAIN
Mr Oduol successfully challenged Mr Rasanga’s election in court but the latter once again trounced him in the by-election.
But the entry of Mr Gumbo into the fray has changed the political equation. Mr Gumbo, Mr Oduol, and Mr Midiwo have had on several occasions appeared jointly at public functions, with the two aspirants vowing to back whoever clinches the ODM ticket.
However, Mr Oduol recently fell out with the two leaders arguing that “their intention was not all about evicting Rasanga from office and empowering the locals.”
Mr Midiwo claims that Mr Oduol had been approached by Mr Rasanga “to betray our cause,” claims the businessman denies.
Maseno University political scientist Tom Mboya says clan politics will influence the outcome of the primaries.
“Because of the many clans, we must also recognise the voting strength of each one of them,” the political analyst said.
He argues that Mr Rasanga still has the advantage of incumbency. Moreover, his constituency has the largest number of voters “who might favour him against Mr Oduol with whom they hail from the same Alego clan.”
At 72,112, Alego/Usonga has the highest number of voters, followed by Bondo (59,614), Gem (55,845), Rarieda (50,200), Ugunja (34,419) and Ugenya (39,729).
'TO APPEASE'
The county now has a total of 447,745 voters after the January mass voter registration.
He adds: “It depends on how Mr Oduol will play his cards to appease Sakwa, Asembo, Uyoma and Yimbo clans.”
The lecturer says the stakes for governor seats were now raised compared to 2013 “and the campaigns are not likely going to be a child’s play.”
Mr Midiwo in the meantime argues that Mr Rasanga has been perpetuating wanton corruption thus being unable to deliver on his pre-election pledges.
“I will not vote for him over mismanagement of county funds,” Mr Midiwo said.
He maintains that the county, where Mr Odinga traces his roots, should lead other counties by example devoid of the runaway corruption championed by a few individuals.
Dr Oginga however, challenges Governor Rasanga’s critics to point out incidences of corruption in Siaya instead of “blanket condemnation.”
“There are bodies tasked with dealing with corrupt individuals mismanaging public coffers. We have the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the CID, Auditor General but we keep on making noise about corruption and fail to involve them,” the MP said.
He has vowed to stick with Mr Rasanga.
RUNNING MATE
It is notable that Dr Oginga had identified Mr Rasanga to be his running mate for governorship before the nominated MP withdrew from the race.
Mr Rasanga in the meantime has asked Siaya residents to re-elect him for a second term for him to complete the development projects he initiated.
“I am the best bet for Siaya governorship, my work has been tried and tested in the past four years. I need a second term to complete the numerous development projects I initiated,” he says even as he promised his opponents a fierce battle during the primaries.
“I am ready to face off with anybody. As the incumbent I have what it takes to retain my seat,” he said.
Mr Oduol is selling himself as the best leader capable of taking the county forward.
'GREAT CAREER'
“I am a certified accountant. I have had a great career in the private sector. I am the best candidate to move Siaya forward as compared to my opponents who are going for the seat to fulfill their selfish ambitions and not because they have a passion to serve the residents,” said Mr Oduol.
Mr Gumbo on the other hand, is banking on his impressive development record in Rarieda and anti-graft campaign at PAC to market himself across Siaya.
“The current aspirants should be ignored because they have no history of prudent management of public resources, in order for Siaya to have rapid transformation. My competency speaks for itself and anyone in doubt should visit Rarieda and see what I am talking about,” said Mr Gumbo.
Mr Orege is viewed as the underdog in this contest.
He claims to be the brain behind some of the Jubilee government development projects pointing out that he drafted them while he was in office as PS. He boasts of the design and construction of the Thika Superhighway.
“I have worked in government for more than 30 years and during my stint, I managed to initiate many development projects. Mr Rasanga has done very little,” said Mr Orege.
