Campaigns end ahead of Monday’s Bonchari by-election

Kisii, Kenya: Campaigns for the Bonchari Parliamentary by-election end as residents head to the polls Monday.

Jubilee candidate Zepedeo Opore (Ford People) and Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) candidates John Oyioka (ODM) and Charles Onyancha (Wiper) have left nothing to chance in the hunt for votes, making it difficult to guess an outright winner.

After bitter court battles between Opore and Oyioka over the outcome of last year's General Election, residents will make their last verdict tomorrow that will elect their MP.

The contest has attracted four other candidates; David Ogega (Democratic Party), Paul Matagaro (Kenya National Congress), Charles Mogaka (Kenya Labour Party) and Geoffrey Omwando (Kenya Social Congress).

The by-election is, however, viewed as a two-horse race between Jubilee and CORD in a region that is politically a neutral zone.

But even within the CORD family, there is a fierce battle after its two affiliate parties failed to agree on who to support for the seat. It has been a busy week as candidates traverse the constituency to hunt for votes.

The campaigns peaked Thursday when CORD leader Raila Odinga toured the region to campaign for the ODM candidate. Raila urged locals to reaffirm their faithfulness to the party by voting overwhelmingly for Oyioka.

"Kisii is an ODM zone, vote for Oyioka in large numbers,” Raila said. However, he stared at the fallout between Wiper and ODM as he toured the region to campaign for the party candidate.

Some of the local MPs had expressed dissatisfaction following the party‘s decision to deny  Onyancha, the ODM candidate in the 2013 General Election nomination certificate, prompting him decamp to Wiper party.

The split among area ODM leaders was evident during Raila‘s tour as all ODM MPs from Kisii and the neighbouring Nyamira counties, apart from Kitutu Masaba legislator Timothy Bosire snubbed the event.

Raila was accompanied by Kisii County Governor James Ongwae, Senator Chris Obure, nominated Senator Janet Ongera and Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati. To pour cold water on the growing revolt, Raila defended ODM‘s decision to support Oyioka.

Took issue

"The party decided to back Oyioka because he had returned to ODM from KANU. We embrace democracy and can only support somebody who is with us,” Raila said.  Addressing another crowd in Suneka, Raila took a swipe at Onyancha, whose supporters were chanting slogans as he addressed the crowd.

The ODM leader said ODM could not support Onyancha because he had quit the party before it carried out its nomination exercise. "That is why I came here to say Oyioka Tosha.  I urge you to speak to onyancha in the language he understands best, by hitting him hard at the polls tomorrow,“ he said.

But in a rejoinder, Onyancha said he would teach ODM a lesson by capturing the seat.

"I left ODM with the blessings of my supporters. I have done enough ground-work, walked and talked to the electorates,” he said. Sources within the party indicate some members secretly campaign for Onyancha and the Jubilee alliance candidate.

The situation could be reminiscent of the two successful by-elections held in Nyaribari Chache and Bomachoge Borabu late last year where some ODM members supported Jubilee alliance candidates.

But South Mugirango MP Manson Nyamweya (ODM) recently told The Standard on Sunday that he would not support any candidate in the by-election saying "I will support whoever emerges the winner".

Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka (ODM) has also hinted at supporting Onyancha. On Wednesday last week, Kisii County ODM women leader, Tabitha Okongo complained that some party members were campaigning against the party candidate.

"The rift among ODM members has cost us two seats in the previous by-elections. I fear it could be detrimental if it replicates itself in Bonchari,” she said.

However, Obure said there was no split in the party, but urged those who were discontented to seek alternative ways of addressing issues within the party instead of supporting ODM political rivals. He asked residents not to disappoint ODM and Raila by voting for Oyioka.

"We want to come back to Bonchari to celebrate ODM‘s victory and add our numbers in the National Assembly to break the tyranny of numbers,” Obure said. Ongwae on the other hand asked residents to vote for the ODM candidate who can work, smoothly ‘with him to drive the county's development agenda. "ODM dominates Kisii County Government. We should follow the same pattern and vote for Oyioka," he urged.

 Bosire asked the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to conduct a free and fair election "for the will of the people to rein". "We are confident that we will triumph. We are going to do everything to recapture the seat," he said.

The by-election is so important to CORD coalition, which suspended its Kisii rally that had been planned to take place on Friday to concentrate on campaigns. The Jubilee alliance brigade has also stepped up its campaigns to recapture the seat as other candidates resort to door-to-door campaigns to woo voters.

Opore has for the last one week held a series of rallies and urged voters to remain peaceful and vote for a hardworking leader who would enhance growth.

"We need a servant politician who will change the economic fortunes of residents," he said. Speaking to The Standard on Sunday, The National Alliance (TNA) Secretary General Onyango Oloo was also confident the ruling Jubilee alliance would recapture the seat. "There are very clear signs that our candidate will win. We have intensified our campaigns. We will stand with Opore until we see him declared the winner,” he states.

Ogega also split his campaigns into two groups. He held a series of road shows and urged voters to choose their next member of parliament wisely. "We don‘t want to go back to court for an election petition. Come out in large numbers and let‘s have a big margin of votes among the candidates," urged Ogega. He said the region had lagged behind in terms of development and needs a leader who is vibrant and focused.

"We must change the poor leadership and in fightings and vote development," he said. Matagaro on the other hand urged voters to consider a renewed leadership.

"We should stop recycling leaders with failed development records. We need a fresh leadership," he said. That campaigns have largely been peaceful and the candidates asked their supporters to remain calm during and after the by-election.

The constituency with a population of 114,615 has 38,749 registered voters and 65 polling stations.