Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga's cry song to CORD leader Raila Odinga excites county politics

Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga. Mr Rasanga told CORD leader Raila Odinga and an amused crowd that some people, including Rarieda MP and his foremost critic Nicholas Gumbo, were after his seat. (PHOTO: FILE/ STANDARD)

He made it sound like a song. But it was a cry for help.

“Baba, jomoko chanda! Baba, Jo Rarieda chanda (Baba, some people are disturbing me! Baba, the people of Rarieda are disturbing me),” he cried out in a message meant for Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga.

The song, by Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga two weeks ago, has become a signature tune in some local vernacular radio stations.

It has also become the talk of Siaya County as next year’s General Election approaches and potential candidates for governor are coming out now.

Mr Rasanga told Raila and an amused crowd that some people, including Rarieda MP and his foremost critic Nicholas Gumbo, were after his seat.

He actually sent Nominated MP Oburu Oginga, who is Raila’s elder brother, to deliver a message that he was in danger and needed urgent help. Raila, who was at the function, listened amid hearty laughter.

But Rasanga told The Standard on Sunday that he is not under siege and is confident of retaining his seat. His cry for help, he said, was meant for people trying to distract him from doing his work as governor.

“I am not scared of anyone because my record speaks for itself,” said the governor through his communications director Bonny Odinga.

This was the second time Rasanga was asking for help from the party leader. Early this year at a function in Suba, he asked Oburu and ODM Chairman John Mbadi to plead with the former Prime Minister to give Nyanza governors direct nominations in next year’s party primaries, a call that sparked an uproar.

The above scenario demonstrates the intensity of the race for the Siaya governor’s seat in 2017.

Rasanga who got the seat in 2013 on a silver platter, following confusion in the party over who had actually won the nomination, has launched a fight of his lifetime to retain his seat, which has attracted political heavyweights and moneyed former civil servants.

Some of his main challengers are Mr Gumbo, William Oduol – the man he narrowly defeated in 2013 – and former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Regional Development, Carey Orege.

Senator James Orengo is also said to be eyeing the seat, although he has not declared so openly. They are tightening the campaigns as Rasanga fights back using what he terms an impressive development report card.

“I have done a lot of projects for the people. I have delivered nearly everything I promised during my campaigns, but I need a second term to implement every project I started. I don’t understand why these people cannot allow me to compete my two terms,” he says.

At the funeral of his grandmother last month, Rasanga told residents to ignore Gumbo, Oduol and Orengo.

“I can remember how party officials persuaded Orengo several times to vie for the seat in 2013, but he turned them down. They supported my bid, but I barely took two years in office before they started ganging up against me to take my seat,” he says.

“I wonder what makes all these aspirants think they can do a better job than me, yet they can hardly handle their present roles.”

Gumbo, Orege and Oduol have started campaigns to oust Rasanga. Investigations by The Standard on Sunday reveal that Gumbo is already campaigning across the county, dishing out goodies, including blankets and reflector jackets to motorcycle riders. Orege is on a door-to-door campaign.

At a function in Gem Sub-county early this month, Rasanga told residents to take up all the goodies brought by aspirants, but vote for him, saying he has transformed the county.

Gumbo says of Rasanga, “We will oppose any attempt by any leader to endorse him this time round.”

Gumbo has urged Oburu to return the favour and support his bid, saying he supported the former Bondo MP’s bid for governor in 2013.

“If Oburu was to be fair, he would now be saying that the leadership of this county be handed over to Gumbo,” he said.

“I personally campaigned for Oburu when his own cousin, Jakoyo Midiwo, publicly opposed him. But he has never appreciated that. He has been blackmailing me instead.”

Oburu confirmed that indeed Gumbo supported him and said he has had no political differences with him. But he said it was still too early for him to make any political declaration.

“We will cross the bridge when we reach there,” he said.

Jakoyo, who has in the past been critical of Rasanga’s leadership, especially on the fight against corruption, says he has no personal difference with the governor. “People will judge who to elect as governor depending on their development record and suitability,” he said.

Recently, Jakoyo was quoted as telling local leaders to stop petty politics and instead focus on how to help Raila win the presidential election next year.

Oduol, who maintains that he will vie on an ODM ticket, says Siaya people should be given a chance to choose their leader.