Former Cabinet Minister Ongeri declares support for Ongwae's re-election

Former Cabinet Minister Sam Ongeri on Friday declared his support for the re-election of Kisii Governor James Ongwae in a move that could jeopardise the Jubilee Party’s attempts to penetrate the region, considered a Cord stronghold.

Speaking during a funds drive for Getare Girls’ High School in Nyaribari Masaba constituency, Prof Ongeri asked the electorate to re-elect Mr Ongwae as he has initiated several projects in the area.

Prof Ongeri has been one of the most steadfast supporters of the Jubilee administration in Kisii and Nyamira counties but recent events in the party appear to have left him disillusioned.

Mr Ongwae, on the other hand, is regarded as the de facto ODM and Cord leader in the region and has remained steadfast even as several Cord MPs ditched the alliance to join Jubilee in the recent past.

Speaking at the function, Prof Ongeri asked residents to accord Mr Ongwae full support in his endeavour to steer the county forward. He also used the occasion to announce that he would contest the Kisii senatorial seat come 2017.

He did not, however, state on which party ticket he would vie.

He attacked the Jubilee campaign team in the region describing its members, who included Mr Ongwae’s deputy Joash Maangi and former Constitution Implementation Commission chairman Charles Nyachae, as a clique of power hungry people hellbent on wresting seats from the region’s leaders.

Prof Ongeri may have to face Mr Nyachae on the ballot for the senate seat.

'ELECTORATE'S BENEFIT'

“As leaders, we should learn to shelve our ambitions and complement each other for the sake of development and the electorate’s benefit. I am also fit to be governor but I have decided to support Ongwae while I go for Senate,” he said.

He said Senator Chris Obure had abdicated his duties and was now busy waging war against Mr Ongwae. Prof Ongeri contested the senatorial seat in 2013 but lost to Mr Obure.

Mr Obure will challenge Mr Ongwae for the governor’s seat. Also in the race for the seat is South Mugirango MP Manson Nyamweya.

But Mr Maangi, the deputy governor, said the Kenyatta campaign team will reach out to Prof Ongeri and former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara to help market the party.

“We have already initiated the process and soon we will have a formidable team to take ODM head on,” he said.

Mr Magara could not be reached on the phone.

Mr Maangi told the Nation that at county, sub-county and ward levels, there will be 20 person teams for the campaigns.

“This could be as soon as the first week of December. We want them to be up and running,” he said.

A similar campaign team has been set up in Nyamira County led by Mr Joseph Kiangoi and Mr Charles Mochama.

On Saturday, Mr Mochama said that though Nyamira had been predominantly in ODM, scores of residents have begun to warm their way to Jubilee.

GROWN WEARY

He said the electorate has grown weary of rhetoric by their party leader Raila Odinga.

“Jubilee has already cemented its presence in the region by initiating a wide range of infrastructural projects. People want development and this is where we have the advantage,” he claimed.

In a rejoinder, Mr Obure said his ambition for governorship was informed by the runaway corruption in Kisii county.

Separately, former Nominated MP George Nyamweya criticised President Kenyatta’s approach to Gusiland and warned him that he was staring at defeat in the region come 2017.

“President Uhuru’s approach to the Abagusii nation has been most casual compared to his father, Jomo Kenyatta, President Daniel Moi and President Mwai Kibaki. Because of this casual manner of handling our issues, in 2017 he may not get the 25 per cent he received from Kisii and Nyamira counties in 2013,” Mr Nyamweya warned.

He noted that unlike past presidents who travelled to Kisii and spent time listening and talking to the people, Mr Kenyatta travels to Kisii in choppers and “only talks to us from the roof of his vehicle.”

“His father would come to Kisii and spend several days directly soliciting people’s support. He had several cabinet ministers and senior civil servants from the region. Moi too had Simeon Nyachae, Zachary Onyonka, Lawrence Sagini and others. Kibaki had Nyachae, Prof Ongeri, Henry Obwocha and others even when they did not vote for him in 2002. But Uhuru is different and people are not blind,” he warned.