Row in Gem pits Midiwo against top scholars

by George Olwenya and Nicholas Anyuor

When news filtered into Gem constituency that the Government had granted it district status, residents sang and danced.

For the locals it was a blessing, as they would no longer travel to Siaya to seek Government services.

But barely a week after the creation of the new Gem District, excitement has turned into bitter rivalry between groups fighting over the location of the district headquarters.

The controversy took a new twist after a group of scholars from the constituency bitterly opposed recommendations by area MP Jakoyo Midiwo and a host of other leaders to have the district headquarters at Wagai and not at Gem divisional headquarters, Yala.

The new District Commissioner, Mr Abdul Jaldesa reported three weeks ago but found himself in the middle of warring sides over his proposed seat of power. He now operates from a hotel in Siaya.

The DC, in his wisdom, has chosen to stay away from Wagai and Yala divisional headquarters so that he does not appear to be taking sides.

The war pits Midiwo against a group of scholars and professionals from Yala division who argue that the divisional headquarters has better structures and infrastructure.

Lobbied for project

The scholars last year lobbied for establishment of the Odera Akango University campus, a satellite of Moi University, which is based in Yala town.

But Mr Midiwo and a Kisumu advocate Mr Stephen K’opot who like himself hails from Wagai have lobbied many local politicians and residents to support the Wagai choice.

Recently, tempers flared at a meeting called to resolve the matter.

Leaders from the newly created Gem District engaged each other in a shouting match over the location of the district headquarters.

Siaya DC Boaz Cherutich and Jaldesa oversaw the stormy meeting.

Trouble started when K’opot who was leading a delegation from Wagai division demanded that modalities of identifying a district headquarters be laid down before a team of three from each of the divisions could go and see the existing infrastructure in Yala and Wagai trading centres.

"We need services in a central place and the approach you have taken based on infrastructure is too narrow" said K’opot.

The sentiments did not go down well with the administrators who left the meeting in a huff.

The new Gem and Ugenya Districts have been hived from Siaya.

Most of the delegates from Wagai accused the provincial administration of imposing Yala Township as the district headquarters despite it not being central.

They alleged that by having the headquarters at Yala, the Government would not be serving the interests of majority of Gem residents but that of the residents of neighbouring Khwisero and Butere districts.

However, Yala delegates said the town had adequate infrastructure, saying Wagai lacked adequate housing and offices.

Raging row

In Gwasi District, the row over whether the district should be headquartered in Magunga or Gingo, near Mbita has been raging for the past one month. Gwasi was carved from Suba District which has been renamed Mbita District. Suba elders are, however, insisting the district be named Suba North to help sustain the identity of the Abasuba.

In the new Uriri District, residents of North Kanyamkago and Kamgundho locations have for the past four months been opposed to the decision to have the new district’s headquarters located at Uriri market, instead preferring Rapogi shopping centre.