MP Oyioka widow among aspirants cleared to run in by-election

Teresa Bititu Oroo when she was cleared by the IEBC at Suneka Baraza Hall today ahead of the May 18 poll. [Edwin Nyarangi, Standard].

Teresa Bititu Oroo, the widow of former Bonchari MP the late Oroo Oyioka, has been cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to contest for the seat.

She will run on the United Democratic Alliance ticket in the by-election slated for May 18.

Also cleared is Agano Party’s Jeremiah Atancha.

Jeremiah Atancha when he was cleared by the IEBC for the Bonchari race slated for May 18. [Edwin Nyarangi, Standard]

More than 10 aspirants in the Bonchari by-election presented their nomination papers today at Suneka Baraza hall for clearance by the electoral agency.

The by-election has attracted both the young and old as well as women aspirants seeking to succeed Oroo.

Three-term former MP Zebedeo Opore of Jubilee party and immediate former Energy Petroleum Regulatory Commission (EPRA) Deputy General Pavel Oimeke (ODM) are also in the race.

Others are Jonah Ondieki who will fly The New Democrats (TND) ticket, Victor Omanwao of People’s Economic Development (PED), Charles Mogaka who joined Progressive Party of Kenya (PPK), David Ogega (Kenya Social Congress), Kevin Mosomi (PDU), Eric Oigo (National Reconstruction Alliance) and Mary Otara (United Green Movement).

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which had supported the late Oroo in the 2017 election will be supporting the UDA candidate.

There will be several factors at play as more than 52,000 voters get to the ballot on May 18 to elect their next MP. Key among them include; the clan matrix, age factor, political affiliations, the political paradigm shift in the region and gender.

Already the national political realignments are playing out in the constituency. Supporters and leaders from the region who are aligned to Amani National Congress, Ford Kenya, KANU and Wiper party will support the Jubilee candidate. The parties' top leadership last week declared to support Opore in the polls.

There are also major realignments in the Gusii community; Those aligned to President Uhuru Kenyatta alongside Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i, those supporting Deputy President William Ruto and those who have remained loyal to Raila Odinga.

On gender, Bititu and Otara will be seeking to break barriers in the deep-rooted patriarchal society. Should any of the two clinch the seat, she will become the first woman to be elected MP from the Gusii community.

Voters in the past have largely voted for their leaders based on the clan matrix. There are four major clans in the area; Bomorenda, Bogiakumu, Riana and Bomariba.

Oimeke, Opore, Ondieki and Mogaka represent the large Riana clan.The two women contenders are from Bomorenda clan while Oigo, Mosomi and Ogego are from Bogiakumu clan.

Oimeke could be winning big on party affiliations owing to the strong ODM political base in the region. The party leader, Raila, has had overwhelming support from locals for the past three elections.

Bonchari borders Homa Bay and more than 2,500 voters from the Luo community vote at various polling stations in the constituency.