Pain of losing governorship race still lingers eight months later
Combined photos of politicians who contested the governorship position in their respective counties but lost. From left: Dr Boni Khalwale (Kakamega), Dr Paul Otuoma (Busia), Mr Oyugi Magwanga (Homa Bay) and Mr Hassan Omar (Mombasa). FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Dr Khalwale garnered 134,999 votes against Mr Oparanya’s 387,999 votes, a result he furiously disputed.
- Mr Mung’aro, who lost to Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, has since been appointed the Lands Ministry's Chief Administrative Officer.
They went for the stars, dropping what they had in hand.
Now, they are out in the cold, biding time to come back, hopefully stronger in the next elections.
A number of senior politicians across the country abandoned their thriving parliamentary careers to try their hand in the biggest prize outside the presidency – county governor.
Many would have easily recaptured their seats, putting them in good stead to succeed their incumbent competitors, most of whom would be serving their last terms anyway, but a dream without ambition is like a car without gas, so goes the age old saying.
For many prominent politicians who ditched their political seats to seek higher offices ahead of the August 8, 2017 election, albeit unsuccessfully, it was all about ambition.
No regrets whatsoever. To them, the adage, “Many of us crucify ourselves between two thieves, regret for the past and fear of the future”, cannot be more profound.
PAUL OTUOMA
To some, like former Funyula MP Paul Otuoma and former Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro, it was about an undying ambition to serve the electorate in a bigger capacity.
“No. I don’t regret the decisions I took ahead of 2017 General Election.
"I had said that I will stand for governorship and you know what happened. I will continue to serve them (Funyula residents) in another capacity but not as MP.
"All this is about service so you give it time, you never know when the calling will come,” Dr Otuoma, who contested the Busia gubernatorial seat but lost to the incumbent Sospeter Ojaamong, said.
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE
He mounted perhaps one of the most aggressive campaigns ever seen in Western Kenya.
Running as an independent candidate after falling out with ODM during the acrimonious party primaries, Dr Otuoma garnered 125,905 votes against Mr Ojaamong’s 135,153 votes.
“The issue of regretting should not arise and we don’t have to fear someone (Raila) who we ourselves created.
"You know very well this area was Kanu through and through. We made a few mistakes yes, I wasted a lot of time. I would easily have contested on an ANC ticket but then the guy tricked me that the nominations will be free and fair and I lost a whole four months.”
PUBLIC SERVICE
Mr Mung’aro, who lost to Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, but has since been appointed the Lands Ministry Chief Administrative Officer, says he has no regrets.
“I have no regrets at all. In fact I am happy that I am now serving Kenyans in the Lands ministry.
"I went for the seat but the people chose whom they think will address their challenges. I am serving the same Kenyans in a different capacity,” Mr Mung’aro said.
Running on a Jubilee Party ticket, Mr Mung’aro garnered 55,107 votes against Mr Kingi’s 213,174.
Former Labour Cabinet Secretary Kambi Kazungu finished third with a modest 43,544 votes in the highly contested election.
MOMBASA
Former Senator Hassan Omar, who contested the Mombasa County gubernatorial seat but lost to incumbent Hassan Joho and has kept a low profile since then, would not be dragged into discussing the subject.
To others like former Kakamega senator and former Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga, their decision to contest was well-informed and, if not for electoral fraud, they claim, they would be governors for Kakamega and Homa Bay respectively.
BONI KHALWALE
The former Kakamega senator has no regrets for ditching his seat to challenge the incumbent, Wycliffe Oparanya.
“My desire to run for the position of Kakamega Governor in the 2017 General Election was timely. I’m proud of the decision.
"Had it not been for the flawed electoral process, I would have won the election and would be in office as the governor.”
“The only regret I have is that we have not sufficiently addressed the ills of electoral injustices in the country to guarantee free and fair polls.
"In the counties, corruption is still rampant and those in office are spending a higher percentage of the funds allocated in the budgets for recurrent expenditure and this is stifling growth and development in the regions.”
Dr Khalwale, running on a Ford Kenya ticket, garnered 134,999 votes against Mr Oparanya’s 387,999 votes, a result he furiously disputed.
“As Ford Kenya, we dismiss and reject these results as they do not reflect the will of the people but a generation of the computers,” he stated soon after the results were announced.
OYUGI MAGWANGA
The former MP also quit his Kasipul parliamentary seat to run for the Homa Bay gubernatorial position as an independent candidate, after falling out with the ODM leadership following the acrimonious party primaries.
In the August 8 election, Mr Magwanga garnered 189,060 to finish a close second to the incumbent, Cyprian Awiti who garnered 210,173 votes.
The latter successfully challenged the results at the high court, leading to the nullification of the election.
Mr Awiti has however appealed the court ruling.
“I do not regret the decision to vie for the seat because I believe the county is yearning for change and transformation. Homa Bay County wants change, this is the reason why I vied.”
