Battle for Kisii shapes up as Obure, Ongwae factions emerge

Kisii Governor James Ongwae addressing a huge crowd at Keroka town recently when CORD leader Raila Odinga visited the region. (Photo: Denish Ochieng/ Standard)

Political realignments in Kisii have sparked off a supremacy battle as factions emerge.

The two camps, one led by Kisii Senator Chris Obure and the other by Governor James Ongwae and Kenya’s UN envoy Sam Ongeri, have raised political temperatures in the region.

The Obure group will a second rally in Bomachoge and Bonchari constituencies today. However, critics have dismissed the faction as a shadowy grouping being used to grab seats in the county.

In the last meeting, attended by the senator who is the ODM Kisii County secretary and a number of Jubilee aligned leaders, Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka (ODM) hinted at plans to form a political party to cater for the Gusii community interests.

Mr Obure said they want to forge unity among local leaders ahead of the elections to ensure they speak with one voice.

Mr Ongwae’s supporters have however accused the senator of using the group as a platform to win the gubernatorial elections in 2017. However, Obure has not publicly declared interest in the governor’s seat.

The Standard on Sunday has learnt that Jubilee and CORD bigwigs are keenly monitoring the activities of the political factions as they seek to stamp authority in the region. But leaders who sought anonymity said politicians were using the groupings to secure their elective positions or win support for new seats in the county.

South Mugirango MP Manson Nyamweya who has announced his candidature for the 2017 gubernatorial seat on a National Congress Party, has distanced himself from the political factions saying they have no agenda.

“I am charting my own course. I am in talks with lawyer Lummba Nyaberi to form a third force which we intend to use to win many seats in the county. The other people are just self seekers,” he said.

There was anxiety last week when Governor Ongwae joined Prof Ongeri, nominated Senator Janet Ongera and PDP Chairman and former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara among other leaders in a secret meeting in Nairobi.

The leaders picked Ongeri, Mr Magara and Lukas Mogoa as the group’s chairman, coordinator and secretary respectively.

The Obure led group seems to have received the backing of Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i after he attended their meeting on Wednesday.

Kitutu Chache political aspirant and High Court lawyer Ogamba Migosi believes the political alignments in Kisii are a sign of political maturity.