There
are no indications that the Abagusii community are going to vote as a bloc come
2017 polls as alleged by politicians.
In
essence, the youths vote for change while the old guard votes for the status
quo.
I
would like to register my disapproval with absolute certainty over a
possibility of a political voting revolution in Gusii land owing to past facts
and what people say unless scientifically and miraculously proved otherwise.
According
to Gusii politics, there exist two schools of thought - one that believes in
voting in the government of the day and another that holds an opposing view.
The 2013 poll results are an ideal example.
Since
time immemorial, the Gusii people have never voted as a bloc. Not even in 2002
when Simeon Nyachae vied for the presidency; not even during the days of the
late political firebrand George Anyona.
Unlike
other regions where the electorate votes as a bloc, the Kisii people are very
democratic and peace-loving, and they will always vote where they feel like.
The
latest assertion by CORD leader Raila Odinga that Jubilee should forget about
the Omugusii vote is politically correct but factually unconvincing.
Voting
is by secret ballot and the Kisiis know very well what Jubilee has done for
them. Come 2017, they will make their own informed decision.
{Faith
Onunga’ Kisii}
Just
like President Uhuru Kenyatta, CORD leader Raila Odinga is looking for votes
from the Abagusii community. But Raila has no moral authority to tell Jubilee
it will not get any votes from the Kisii region.
There
are no zoned areas in this country that are the preserve of certain
individuals. Indeed, it is the democratic right of anyone seeking the
presidency to look for votes from any community.
If
Raila knows that the Abagusii will vote for him 100 per cent come the next
elections, he should not have made frequent visits to the region to solicit for
votes, and especially after Uhuru or Deputy President William Ruto had toured
the region.
His
frequent visits are a show that he is in a panic ahead of the elections and
that is why Jubilee’s forays into perceived opposition zones are making him
uncomfortable.
On
the other hand, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho appears to be a man with enormous
political chip on his shoulder, especially when it comes to matters relating to
DP Ruto.
Governor
Joho’s continuous criticism of Ruto shows that the ODM deputy party leader has
lost touch with the reality in Coast region, whose political landscape seems to
be changing fast as residents are starting to lean towards the Jubilee Party
ahead of the 2017 elections.
Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletter
Instead
of directing his political anger at Ruto over the defections of Governor Salim
Mvurya of Kwale County and various MPs to Jubilee Party, Joho should address
the problems facing ODM in the region.
Some
Coast residents have now come to believe that the opposition has nothing to
offer them and that is why they are reconsidering their continued stay in ODM.
It
is unbelievable that someone of Joho’s caliber is yet to come to terms with the
fact that there is no part of Kenya that is the preserve of certain political
parties.
Like
any other political party, Jubilee has a right to sell its agenda to coastal
communities just the way ODM can do the same with voters in Rift Valley. It is
time leaders focused on issues instead of inciting Kenyans against their
competitors for their own selfish gains.