ODM’s popularity in Kisii at stake as Ford-People bounces back

By James Mbaka

Kisii, Kenya: The Ford People victory in the Nyaribari Chache by-election was a wake-up call for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to save its ‘dwindling’ fortunes in Kisii region.

ODM has been commanding huge support in Kisii region which voted overwhelmingly for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in last year’s General Elections but the surprise change of fortunes has sent the whole party brigade back to the drawing board.

The recent loss of its parliamentary seat hitherto held by immediate former MP Chris Bichage portends a reduction in the party’s parliamentary strength even as the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) in which ODM is a principal partner gears for the 2017 race.

As ODM grapples with the loss, the ruling Jubilee Alliance on the other hand celebrated a major victory after its affiliate party, Ford-People, picked the spoils in Nyaribari Chache to boost the coalition’s parliamentary strength.

Barely 10 days before the Nyaribari Chache defeat, ODM had failed in its bid to boost its numbers in the National Assembly through the Bomachoge Borabu by-election after TNA’s Joel Onyancha retained his seat in the December 19 mini poll.

Pundits argue the loss by ODM in Kisii, particularly in Nyaribari Chache, was because the by-election was billed as a major political duel in the realignment of the region’s political landscape ahead of the 2017 General Election with Ford People repositioning itself.

In the first place, Ford People went into the by-election well aware of the herculean task ahead.

Secondly, Ford People spent a fortune in harnessing synergy through party patron Simeon Nyachae who intends to field one of his sons for the Kisii gubernatorial seat in 2017 to inherit his political mantle. He used the by-election to test waters of his political relevance in the region, starting with the constituency he represented for about 15 years.

Curiously, the party victory poses potential political damage to the ODM fortunes in the region in the long run.

In the last General Election, ODM won all the county seats in Kisii and three out of nine parliamentary seats. South Mugirango MP Manson Nyamweya , Bomachoge Chache MP Simon Ogari, Richard Onyonka of Kitutu Chache South and the thrown out Nyaribari Chache’s Bichage won their seats on the ODM ticket.

Appeal pending

Narc Kenya won Nyaribari Masaba through Elija Moindi, Ford People’s Stephen Manoti won Bobasi and while Zebedeo Opore was elected in Bonchari but his victory was overturned by the court which declared Kanu’s Oroo Oyioka the validly elected area MP. There is however an appeal by Opore pending in court.

Jimmy Angwenyi of TNA captured the Kitutu Chache North parliamentary seat.

But, as it stands today, ODM has remained with only Ogari and Onyonka as the only loyal MPs to the party from the whole of Kisii County.

South Mugirango’s Nyamweya defied his party and drummed support for Ford People in the two by-elections and has indicated his intention to revamp the party in readiness to build alliances with like-minded parties ahead of the 2017 General Election.

Kisii ODM branch secretary Joash Maangi warns that unless ODM rethinks its approach and appreciates that the mini-polls were more than just parliamentary representation, the party’s popularity in the region would be at stake.

“We are aware that the duel was between the Nyachae family and ODM’s Kisii County government because there is word that Charles Nyachae will run for governor in 2017. That is not something to ignore,” Maangi who is also the Kisii County deputy governor told The Standard.

There have been disquiet within ODM that Maangi, who is also close to the Nyachae family, was betraying the party by supporting rival candidates in a silent political realignment for the 2017 Kisii gubernatorial race.

However, other ODM leaders from the region have asked Maangi to work closely with Governor James Ongwae to form a formidable force.

“The ODM loss was a political message to the county government that while they continue ruling, fierce political heat is boiling outside and if they fail to read the writings on the wall, then they will have themselves to blame,” says political analyst Lamech Ogembo

Ford People chairman Henry Obwocha told The Standard that his party was now eying to sweep all the elective seats in the region in 2017.

“We will now have our eyes fixed on the 2017 elections, we wanted to see how we can perform and I think we have the trial results and will work along to revamp the party,” said Obwocha.