Jubilee’s uphill task in Western Kenya as battle for vote-rich bloc hots up

Perceived marginalisation and CORD's influence are among the hot issues Jubilee allies in Western Kenya are grappling with as they pitch for President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election.

Despite the odds staked against them, the ruling coalition’s allies are upbeat that they will pull a surprise in the 2017 elections.

They say they are only waiting for the Jubilee Party to be launched before embarking on popularising the new outfit.

They nonetheless acknowledge that it will be an uphill task to turn around the tables in a region that overwhelmingly supported CORD in the 2013 polls.

“Western has been an ODM stronghold and that fact is still with us. It will not be easy but we are determined to mobilise our supporters and get presidential votes in the 2017 polls,’’ said Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali.

Jubilee won two parliamentary seats in the region in 2013 through the United Republican Party (URP). Its numbers swelled after it entered a post-election pact with New Ford Kenya and the United Democratic Front (UDF).

It also performed well in the former Mt Elgon region, where Deputy President William Ruto’s URP party and CORD’s Ford Kenya shared the spoils.

Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka (New Ford Kenya) is now the Jubilee coalition’s point man in the region, alongside Teso North MP Arthur Odera and Washiali.

“We don’t want to shout about our strategy at the moment, but we will soon make a major announcement before we embark on serious campaigns. Our campaigns will be based on development,’’ said Lusaka.

Odera said they have been meeting women and youth groups and the elderly to sensitise them on Jubilee’s achievements as they await the merger. “Making public pronouncements is not our forte. We don’t want our supporters to judge us by the standards of our opponents who make empty remarks,’’ said the URP MP.

Former Kwanza MP Noah Wekesa, who is the co-chair of the Jubilee Party steering committee, says campaigns will commence once the new party has been unveiled.

“In a month’s time, the Jubilee Party will be unveiled officially. We will then start grassroots mobilisation to sell our coalition policies to the electorate. Jubilee will make inroads in the entire western,’’ he said.

Futile efforts

But political analyst Barack Muluka argues that the efforts maybe futile.

“Jubilee is likely to maintain what they got in the 2013 polls or get slightly more. They are aware their chances in Western are slim,’’ said Muluka. “Anything they do at the moment will be seen as election gimmick. Look at their appointments, how has western region benefited? It is a huge task and they know that. Jubilee should begin doing things practically.”

Odera is, however, adamant that the coalition will perform better in next year’s polls. “This time our politics are well coordinated as we strive for unity and cohesion among all Kenyans. I am optimistic Jubilee will perform much better in western than it did in 2013,” he said.

Budalang'i MP and ODM Secretary General Ababu Namwamba is confident the region will not be wooed by government goodies.

“Western residents will not be swayed by Jubilee projects. The government lacks inclusivity. We feel alienated from this regime,’’ said Namwamba.

Political outriders

Muluka further argues that if Jubilee wants to bag western votes, it should work with popular leaders.

“Those used so far are political outriders who hope something falls on the ground for them to eat,’’ he said.

But even as the ruling coalition sets its eyes on the western pie, all is not well in its Mt Elgon stronghold.

Led by former Mt Elgon MP Joe Kimkung, civic leaders from Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties claimed that the Jubilee coalition had taken their support for granted.

They were particularly irked that the names of Sabaot candidates were expunged from the final list even though they had been shortlisted for the position of Kenya Seed Company (KSC) managing director. “The candidates were never interviewed by the KSC Board last week Friday despite having been shortlisted. This is a clear sign they will not be considered for the post,” said MCAs David Kapoloman (Saboti), Gilbert Kitiyo (Kinyoro) and Philip Sakong (Matumbei) in a statement.

CORD’s Moses Wetang’ula and Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi are already traversing the region popularising their respective outfits.

The two have declared they will be on the presidential ballot in next year’s elections.