By Kepher Otieno
They joined politics in the 1970s and served during the Kenyatta and Moi regimes. Most of their peers have bowed out of active politics to give room to the new generation, but not so for Nyanza’s old guard, who have now hit the campaign trail with gusto as they plot a major comeback in the next General Election.
Armed with cash earned from politics and businesses over the years, the old guard is telling youthful aspirants eyeing key seats in the county governments to wait a little longer.
This has sparked a big debate across Nyanza and has divided opinion over the return of the older politicians.
Former Education Assistant Minister Pharez Oluoch Kanindo and onetime Kisumu Town Clerk and Regional Development Minister Ojwang’ Kombudo are the face of the old guard, who have thrown their hats in to the ring. The two insist age is nothing, but a number when it comes to politics.
Kanindo, a career music producer of international repute, who once hosted Congolese music legends such as Franco, Tabuley and Mbilia Bel at his home in Awendo, is gunning for the Migori senatorial seat. He joined active politics in 1974 and vied for the then Homa Bay parliamentary seat, coming second. He later won the seat in 1979 and served until 1988. Kanindo will turn 70 in November this year. He has also served as the chairman of South Nyanza Sugar Company.
Their defence
In the neighbouring Kisumu County, Mr Kombudo who is said to be more than 70-years old is determined to become the county’s first governor. Kombudo became the Kisumu Town Clerk in 1970. Many of the youthful politicians challenging him for the governor’s seat were born around or after that time.
He was the MP for Nyakach for 15 years from 1979 to 1992 when trade unionist Dennis Akumu trounced him. He is a wealthy man with vast interests in real estate and is conducting a door-to door campaign in the vast county.
In interviews, the two politicians said the age factor did not bother them and they vowed to win the seats with landslides.
Kanindo claimed he was in the race not for material gain, but to explore his treasury of political experience to spur economic growth in Migori County.
“My main aim is to use my wealth of political experience to mobilise all segments of the economy to and leaders to start viable development projects,’’ he says.
A powerful orator and a lover of designer suits, Kanindo is facing opposition from younger candidates including Gender Secretary Professor Collette Suda, ODM Migori County Chairman John Magaiwa and former East Africa Legislative Assembly MP Mbeo Ochieng’.
Kandindo and Kombudo trash claims their advanced age would inhibit their performance if elected.
“Who tells you that age is a determining factor in leadership. Experience is the thing. If you have mastered the game, no one will beat you in the field,’’ says Kanindo.
“I am still as fit as a fiddle and young in mind. Those who think am old should stop using my hair to judge, but listen to my agenda to decide if I am fit or not,” says Kombudo.
“I have served the people diligently in different capacities and am wealthy enough that when elected governor I will serve the people selfless without urge for quick riches,’’ he says.
Kombudo says county governments need older and experienced leaders.
“The young men are driven into leadership by wish for riches while I am focused on development and to create wealth and investment opportunities for all,’’ he says.
Fighting alongside Kombudo is another wealthy old guard, businessman Maxwell Otieno Odongo, who also wants to be Kisumu County governor. They will battle it out with Medical Services Minister Peter Anyang Nyong’o and Nairobi architect, Mr Ocholla Ogoda.
A political scientist, Mr Ben Nyakinya, says age definitely is not a number especially because the county governments will require leaders to be mobile.
Opinion on comeback
“The up and down movement may not be suitable for the old guard who are supposed to relax a lot and limit their movements especially flying in and out,’’ he says.
Nyakinya says senators and governors will be required to travel a lot to see how the system has succeeded elsewhere and borrow the ideas to develop their counties.
Similarly, they will also need to spend more time sitting in the Assembly to generate ideas for governance of the counties, which will translate into laws.
“Now these tasks require a lot of energy and sound brain that is not already exhausted and that is why younger senators would be ideal,’’ he argues.
Yet Kanindo, Kombudo and Odongo are not the only old guard making a beeline for the devolved governments positions.
In Homa Bay County, a long serving civil servant and politician, Philip Okundi is burning his midnight oil working a strategy to win the gubernatorial seat. Okundi has held senior positions in government parastatals and his critics say he ought to have retired from the public limelight.
