Othaya candidates prepare to hit ground running in the coming by-elections

Immediate former Othaya MP Mary Wambui will be battling to retain her seat in the April 29 by-election. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

By FRANCIS NGIGE

Nyeri, Kenya: A replica of the bruising battle experienced in the last General Election appears to be in the offing in Othaya constituency.

Battle lines have been drawn and the April 29 by-election promises to be a closely fought affair between the March 4, 2013 protagonists.

Missing in the scene, however, would be Mwai Kibaki, who, having handed over the instruments of power is unlikely to be involved in the campaigns like he did before.

Having exited the scene and his preferred candidate biting the dust (emerging third in the contest), Kibaki is not likely to be involved in this mini-election.

Already controversy is brewing in the Jubilee Coalition stronghold with reports that immediate former MP Mary Wambui has been handed the much-sought The National Alliance (TNA) ticket.

With her opponents in the last polls also said to be eyeing the President Uhuru Kenyatta’s party ticket, the move is likely to add spice to the already dicey situation.

If it is true that Wambui has secured the TNA ticket, this will give her a headstart and throw her opponents off-balance. Yesterday, Wambui could not confirm or deny that she had the certificate in her pocket, choosing to play safely saying: “It might be true or false.”

“Why do you ask? Is there a problem if I get the certificate from my party, which I have worked hard to build?” posed the politician when The Standard on Sunday sought her to clarify the issue.

TNA Secretary General Onyango Oloo said although the party had not officially issued the certificate to Wambui, no other candidate had expressed interest in it.

Out of time

“As far as the party is concerned, time is running out for it to conduct nomination and only Wambui has sought the ticket. The door is still opened for all those interested but as of now she is assured since no one else has come for it,” Oloo said yesterday.  The official said the party has given interested candidates until Wednesday to express interest failure to which the ticket will be “formally” be handed over to Wambui. Wambui’s rivals have also chosen to remain guarded on their next course of action following TNA ticket debacle. Her main opponent, lawyer Peter King’ara, who successfully petitioned her election, said the issue of party would remain secret as he continues engaging the Othaya constituents. “I don’t want to be drawn into these issues whether Wambui has been given TNA ticket or not. I would be declaring my position next week after I finish my consultation,” said King’ara. 

But he was categorical that the party issue notwithstanding, he was firmly in the race and was likely to beat Wambui in the by-election.

It is not clear whether former President Kibaki’s preferred candidate Mugambi Gichuki is still in the race. Although Mugambi had declared interest in the seat after the Court of Appeal nullified Wambui’s election, he has remained silent on whether he was still keen to take a second stab at the parliamentary seat. When The Standard on Sunday contacted him, Mugambi promised to call back but had not done so by the time of going to press.

Also in the race is Kibaki’s former security adviser Esau Kioni who will be fighting for the coveted seat on a Democratic Party (DP) ticket.

Split vote basket

With the candidates rolling up their sleeves ready for the strenuous campaigns that will start this week after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission clears the candidates, observers will be keen to see how things pan out.

The constituency is already abuzz with the candidates traversing the villages in search of votes.

What is likely to determine the election is the voter turns out in the strongholds of the three main candidates and whether they would attract support from the swing areas.

According to neutral observers, the way things are, Wambui stands the chance of retaining the seat if both King’ara and Mugambi would still be in the race. They hail from Chinga, the most populous area in the constituency, and if they decide to vie, like they did in the last elections, they would divide the votes among themselves. With Wambui being the only candidate from Mahiga, the third most populous ward in the constituency, she would have a headstart and also take some votes Kibaki’s Iria-ini ward, where she enjoys support going by the outcome of the last elections.

About three quarters of Othaya town is in Iriaini Ward and with Wambui enjoying support among the elderly and the youth, she might be the one to be in the eventual contest. Things will, however, be different for Wambui if either King’ara or Mugambi drops out of the race, as this will hand the one who remains in the contest a big boost.

Karima ward, which also makes part of Othaya town, is regarded as the swing area with any of the candidates having a chance of scooping votes from it. The battle with also likely to boil down to personalities.  With Wambui known to be a down-to-earth politician and a grassroots mobiliser par excellence, her opponents are likely to face the challenge of selling themselves as “people’s servants” since they are seen as flamboyant and elitist.

But from what is happening from the ground, the by-election promises to be a closely fought affair with voters already being subjected to a the frenzy associated with campaigns. Some candidates have started trading accusations even before IEBC clears the way for official campaign period.

Kioni claims the provincial administration was preparing ground for Wambui’s re-election. But in a quick rejoinder, Wambui said her opponents had already started running scared “after realising that I will beat them in the by-election.”

Kioni bitterly complained that the immediate former MP was trying to use the Provincial Administration in her bid to re- capture the Othaya parliamentary seat.

Kioni alleged TNA and its agents had already started enlisting the services of chiefs and their assistant in to ensure the re-election of the former MP. But Wambui denied the allegations, saying that those who are spreading the rumour are misguided aspirant who have sensed defeat at the ballot.

Wambui said at no time during her campaign or meeting had she ever sought the assistance of the provincial administration, as she is capable of running her campaign.

“I do not need any one to campaign for me, those who are claiming am using chiefs to campaign are already panicking because am popular with people,” Wambui said.