County power sharing formula yields no fruit

By Naftali Makori

Divisions have emerged in the four Nyamira County constituencies after meetings meant to come up with a power sharing formula failed to yield any fruit.

A meeting at Kebirigo High School recently came up with a contentious resolution that the governor comes from West Mugirango constituency, and specifically from the Bonyamatuta clan.

The highly contentious proposal appeared to endorse John Nyagarama, the current Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA) board member.

But the stance did not go well with participants at the forum, saying it was divisive.

The second proposal was that the parliamentary seat should remain with the Bogichora clan to which current Member of Parliament, James Gesami belongs.

Some insiders claim the meeting was the MP’s handiwork because he publicly supported the declarations.

They argue that the meeting was a calculated move to lock out Dr Gesami’s main competitors for parliamentary seat. They are Julius Matwere, who is an ally to former MP Henry Obwocha and Stephen Mogaka of Bonyamatuta.

Mr Obwocha is eyeing the senator’s seat and comes from the biggest clan in the area, Bosamaro. Politically, members of the Bosamaro clan do not get on well with members of Bogichora clan where Dr Gesami hails from. Other clans in the constituency include Bomabacho, Bogesinsinsi, Bonyaiguba and Bokiambori.

Failure to allocate the senator position to any clan within West Mugirango constituency complicated matters for former area MP Henry Obwocha, former board chairman of the now defunct Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission Okong’o Omogeni and city lawyer Mong’are Bwokongo.

Dividing voters

The three are political heavyweights in West Mugirango. Even more delicate is the fact that Mr Omogeni and Mr Obwocha come from Bosamaro clan. Observers say it might get murkier as elections approach.

Speaking to The County Weekly recently, Mr Omogeni distanced himself from clan politics, terming it archaic. He said he would approach matters from a different perspective.

“I expect voters to choose wisely without necessarily using clan, party affiliation or handouts as criteria,” he said.

West Mugirango constituency is known for its clan based politics. Basamaro and Bagichoora clans have dominated politics in the area for long. It is only in the 1970s when the small clans ganged up to give their full support to Sospeter Mageto.

Other than Mr Mageto, the parliamentary seat has been revolving between Bosamaro and Bogichora clans.

Observers argue that the clan card will move a notch higher in the coming polls because of the senatorial and gubernatorial seats.

Mr Mogaka, who is eyeing the MP’s seat, dismisses the Kebirigo meeting, saying it was aimed at dividing voters in the area for the benefit of few individuals.

Right to assembly

“The meeting was not all inclusive and if this is what the two clans want, then it is time we call all the other clans perceived to be small, to vote as bloc,” he says.

Mr Mogaka says it is wrong for members of the two clans to operate as if other people in the area do not matter.

“Nyamira has people from other parts of the country and this clan thing must stop,” he says.

In a counter meeting held at Rirumi primary school three days later, the Kebirigo deliberations were denounced by Mr Matwere who was endorsed for MP.

“If there has to be any power sharing agreement, all candidates for all positions from across the four constituencies must attend and it has to be held in public,” contends Victor Nyang’aya, a retired KNUT official.

George Nyaribo, a health professional who has declared interest for the Nyamira governor position, says in a democratic situation, an elective position can go anywhere, regardless of clan or village one hails from.

“Let the people decide. Let nobody impose a leader on us. Such boardroom line ups do meet the minimum threshold of democracy,” says Mr Nyaribo.

Catherine Nyamato, who reportedly attended the stormy Kebirigo meeting, says she was not officially invited.

“I was called to attend by a friend. I did not agree with the agenda and told the participants such a debate on power sharing must be done when all contenders for various seats are present,” Ms Nyamato told The County Weekly.

Shown the door

“A leader is never chosen in a board room but must be subjected to public scrutiny and voted for after convincing the public that he is fit to lead. It has to be a democratic process,” she said.

Opponents of the power sharing agreement fumed that such boardroom arrangements were divisive and could antagonise the voters from the four constituencies; Kitutu Masaba, West Mugirango, North Mugirango and the newly created Borabu.

However, the convenor of the highly criticised Kebirigo meeting, Nelson Onyancha maintains they have a right to assembly and expression. He still insists that West Mugirango, the headquarters of Nyamira County, should produce a governor.

Mr Matwere says some crafty politicians were using the clan matrix to achieve their selfish interests.

The Nyamira County Governor seat has attracted several people including Fred Machana, Evans Misati, Charles Mochama and Kinaro Ndubi.

Others are Mwancha Okioma, Makori Bikundo, George Nyaribo, Clive Menge, Job Nyasimi, Erneo Nyakiba, Osoro Getabu among others.

Peter Ondieki, the Inspector General of State Corporations, has also been mentioned on several occasions as a potential contender for the influential governor seat. He is yet to publicly declare interest.

Another senatorial seat contender, Robert Nyakango has also raised concern about power sharing deals.

He argues that it is a deliberate ploy to isolate some individuals from power. He urges the electorate to focus on issues.

“Politicians preaching clannism must be shown the door. We want to be united and elect leaders who can help improve Nyamira County economically so that we be can compete favourably with other counties,” says Mr Nyakang’o.

Just six months to elections, civil societies including the Kenya Red Cross have warned that ethnicity could hamper peaceful elections and lead to a possible pre-election violence as witnessed in parts on Mandera, Wajir and Tana River.