Nyachae has last laugh as his party wins by-election

By Beauttah Omanga

What goes around comes around, they say, and this adage was evidently at work during last week’s South Mugirango by-election.

Former Cabinet minister Simeon Nyachae had the last laugh when his party’s candidate trounced PDP’s Omingo Magara and ODM’s Ibrahim Ochoi.

The outcome of the by-election was sweet revenge for Nyachae, who had a string of losses to ODM in his Kisii home turf.

Former Cabinet minister Simeon Nyachae. Photo: FILE/STANDARD

Nyachae lost the 2005 referendum to the Orange team led by Prime Minister Raila Odinga and this was followed with a defeat at the 2007 General Election.

But last week’s results gave the former power man reason to smile as Raila was left agonising.

With Magara as the pointman, ODM trounced all the Nyachae allied MPs save for Bomachoge’s Joel Onyancha. Mr Onyancha later lost the seat in a by-election to ODM.

Even though Nyachae had announced his retirement from politics, his large political shadow still hovers over Kisii and to many it was a mater of time before he struck.

Losing direction

As the South Mugirango by-election campaigns intensified, there were rumours doing rounds that Nyachae was likely to visit the area and "greet" the constituents, but he never did.

Sources said Nyachae instead accepted a request to meet some elders from South Mugirango at his Nyosia home. It was there he declared that he wanted residents to vote for Ford- People’s Manson Oyongo Nyamweya.

One of those who consulted Nyachae included an ODM nomination loser who later said: "It was fulfilling politically listening to Mzee Nyachae. From then on, I made up my mind to support a candidate of his choice," said the nomination loser.

One of those who met Nyachae was Zebedeo Nyaboga, who revealed that Nyachae prevailed upon him to support Nyamweya, saying the Kisii community was losing political direction by always succumbing to external influence.

"I took his concerns seriously and decided to throw my weight behind Nyamweya till he won," said Nyaboga.

Mr Nyaboga had contested the ODM nomination but lost to Ochoi even as he cried foul. He was later to tell Raila to his face that ODM would lose the seat.

At a church function attended by Raila, he said: "ODM is losing this one and it is the poor nomination to blame."

An experienced Nyachae also brought on board the support of two former area MPs David Kombo and Reuben Oyondi, all locals who rallied behind Nyamweya. The only force outside South Mugirango who featured included former Cabinet minister Henry Obwocha, Nyachae’s wife Grace and soccer administrator Sam Nyamweya.

Game changer

"Nyachae requested us to take the interest of Omogusii at heart first and teach the outsiders a lesson politically. Elections are first local issues before we advance to national interests.

That was what formed the basis of our reason to support Nyamweya, who was Nyachae’s preferred candidate" said (Sam) Nyamweya.

The appearance of Nyachae’s wife in South Mugirango a day to the by-election was a game changer. During her visit she pleaded with the electorate to support Nyamweya.

Finally, when the Ford-People candidate was declared MP-elect, it was more than a mere victory to the party’s supporters.

"It confirmed to doubting Thomases that Nyachae is still a force to reckon with," said Sam.

The South Mugirango MP-elect is now the most sought after politician by both the PNU and the ODM sides of the Coalition Government with each sides promising him some ministerial reward.

Sources told The Standard that already, the office of the Prime Minister has talked with Nyamweya to join their side with a promise of being appointed an assistant minister.

On their part, the PNU side is clinging on an agreement the Ford- People party entered ahead of the last General Election to have the MP- elect continue being part of the coalition. Mr Obwocha, who is Ford- People Secretary-General, said the party NEC will be meeting in the next two weeks to deliberate on the way forward, but said his party still has a relationship with PNU.

"As at now we have a working partnership with PNU and that has not changed. We are not aware that ODM wants to lure our MP to their side," said Obwocha.

But Nyamweya has said his options are still open and he will decide which side of the coalition to work with.

Political lessons

"It was disturbing to see PNU bigwigs use resources to campaign for somebody who had no working arrangements with them and abandon us. We will have to wait and see what they have before we decide how to move forward, but the most important thing is my service to my electorate," said Nyamweya.

He confirmed the two sides had verbally called him seeking to have him join their side immediately he is sworn-in.

"The PM’s office called me with a promise that they are ready to have me on their side and the PNU also did the same. It will depend on what either side lays on the table," said Nyamweya.

It is now clear that the just concluded South Mugirango by-election has presented political parties with some lessons.

With the Matuga by-election slated for July 12, the parties are scratching their heads on the best way to handle a by-election as they nurse wounds of defeat and engage in blame games.

Political bigwigs camped in South Mugirango to root for their candidates hyping the campaigns, but a shocker came when Ford-People, a party with its support base in the region, secured the seat.

While Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Education Minister Sam Ongeri openly campaigned for PDP’s Omingo Magara, PNU Secretary General and Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi says his party had an agreement with Ford-People leader Nyachae that PNU would support the party candidate.

But Kiraitu says nothing new can be learnt from the by-election, given that Kenya’s politics normally take ethnic dimensions.

"I don’t think too much would be read because there are so many dynamics in Kenya’s politics. Parties are undeveloped and there are ethnic issues also involved," says Kiraitu.

Drawing board

ODM Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo, however, says his party has learnt a lesson from the by-election adding the orange party has to go back to the drawing board with the Matuga by-election now on the way.

"We are happy Magara was defeated. He was given direct nomination and had joined forces with enemies of the party to campaign against it," says Mr Midiwo.

ODM deputy Chief Whip and Assistant Minister for Energy Magerer Lang’at says his party ended up dividing votes between Magara and Ochoi, arguing the supporters of the party could not consolidate their votes since Magara ditched the party.

All the same, Magerer says democracy prevailed. "The people’s wish prevailed and it has shown that they know what is good for them," says Magerer. But PNU Deputy Chief Whip Johnston Muthama, who is Kalonzo’s ally, argues that the results of the by-election is not a blow to KKK alliance, but rather a statement of democracy.