How wrangles led to ODM loss in Bomachoge

By KENAN MIRUKA and JAMES MBAKA     

KENYA: Internal wrangles and divisions cost the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) the Bomachoge Borabu seat in the just-concluded by election.

Rival political coalition, Jubilee alliance, recaptured the seat after Joel Onyancha of The National Alliance (TNA) emerged victor with 10,134 votes against ODM’s Peter Kimori, who polled 10,052 votes.

Kimori conceded defeat in the mini poll but remained upbeat, saying he was a strong loser who had to contend with party challenges and ruling party operatives.

“Normally, victory has many fathers but a loss is an orphan. We fought a huge war against the Government, regional and 2017 political realignments and my party position. Largely, the vote was a semblance of where we want to be as a people. This war will not stop the dream of the Bomachoge Borabu people through my leadership,” said Kimori. The Orange party candidate alluded to massive voter bribery and use of the Provincial Administration as other reasons for his defeat. IEBC commissioner Abdullahi Sharawe confirmed two suspects had been arrested in connection with bribery.

Kimori jointly with Ford People’s Albert Nyaundi successfully filed a petition challenging Onyancha’s election in the last General Election prompting the by-election.

Sharp split

Soon after the seat was declared vacant in October, leaders of the ODM Kisii County branch appeared divided on whether to support Kimori’s candidature. A section of the ODM Youth League officials openly rebelled and campaigned for rival party candidates. Senior branch officials backed TNA and UDF candidates in the poll.

“As a youth league, we raised concerns over our party’s failure to conduct nominations and recognise the grassroots structures hence our decision,” said youth league leader Geoffrey Gutwa in a statement to the media.

South Mugirango MP Manson Nyamweya openly declared he would back Ford People candidates for the Bomachoge Borabu and Nyaribari Chache by elections, arguing it was critical to elect leaders who have the interest of the public at heart.Rifts also emerged on who was to spearhead campaigns in Bomachoge Borabu after the names of MPs Simon Ogari (Bomachoge Chache) and Timothy Bosire (Kitutu Masaba) were floated. Ogari was picked during a Parliamentary Group meeting in Nairobi. Bosire concedes lack of unity may have contributed to the loss.

“Like the adage goes, united we stand, divided we fall. We can’t go into a war while divided. There is need for the party to deal with these internal challenges so as to cope with future challenges starting with the Nyaribari Chache by-election,” said Bosire.

A major rift had already emerged after the local party branch secretary and Kisii County Deputy Governor Joash Maangi defied his party to campaign for Jubilee accusing ODM of failing to conduct party primaries to pick a candidate.

Maangi is said to be gravitating towards the ruling alliance notably after he hosted Deputy President William Ruto at his Bongera home in May. Ruto has not visited the region any more despite pleas from local leaders to the jubilee government to tour the region.

Pundits argue Maangi’s financing of Onyancha’s campaigns frustrated ODM’s chances to win the seat and does not augur well for the party’s political standing in the region. Victory for ODM would have reaffirmed the party’s strong political following in Kisii.

Raila visit

The Deputy Governor was conspicuously absent during the visit by Raila in the campaigns that were largely chaotic after TNA supporters clashed with ODM diehards at Kenyenya Green Stadium.

Kisii Governor James Ongwae, who accompanied the former PM in the rallies, also chose a rather lukewarm approach in drumming support for Kimori by asking voters to weigh all the candidates and pick the best. “I want you to put them on the seesaw and weigh them to pick the best because all of them are able leaders,” Ongwae told the crowd at Kenyenya stadium.

Although the ODM party leader was accompanied by some of the key leaders from the county, their presence was merely a cosmetic public display since most of them failed to support the campaigns financially.

For instance, they gave a fundraiser event in Nairobi organised  to raise campaign money for Kimori a a wide berth one week to the mini-poll. Only Ogari and nominated senator Janet Ong’era attended.

Nyamweya had broken ranks with his party and was campaigning for Ford-people’s Albert Nyaundi, who garnered 3,325 votes coming third behind Kimori.

Vocal Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka was another notable key figure who did not accompany Raila in the campaigns for Kimori. He never engaged himself in the campaigns actively as is characteristic of him.

Local leaders are now warning that unless ODM puts its house together, the same trend may recur in the Nyaribari Chache by-election set for December 30.

Former MP Robert Monda will fly the TNA flag while Richard Tong’i will vie on a Ford-people ticket. ODM has fronted immediate area MP Chris Bichage.