Why political waves, academics will decide Vihiga governor

By ERIC LUNGAI

Political experience, prominence, academics and party waves have dominated campaigns for election of the first Vihiga County governor ahead of the March 4 General Election.

Being the home turf of Amani alliance presidential candidate Musalia Mudavadi, most aspirants were evidently unwilling to let go of the UDF party ticket until the last minute when Dr Jairus Boston Amayi clinched it during last week’s nominations.

Mudavadi, the immediate former MP for Sabatia, which is among the county’s four constituencies, will be seeking election as Kenya’s fourth President on a UDF ticket, thus making it a popular party in the region.

And like other regions, where tickets of either dominant parties or parties on which presidential candidates from the area are running on are popular, prior to last week’s primaries, there was a feeling the party flag bearer could have one foot into the county administration.

Since his defection from Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s ODM party to UDF, Mudavadi has gripped his Vihiga backyard and political analysts say his latest fall out with the Jubilee alliance of Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto has hardened his resolve to run for the top seat.

He secured the endorsement of Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa in what many see as an attempt at the fabled Luhya unity to secure the western region vote.

Party acid test

UDF enjoys fanatical following in Vihiga, Sabatia and Hamisi districts and has sizeable support base in Emuhaya and Luanda districts.

ODM’s former MPs Wilber Ottichilo (Emuhaya), George Khaniri (Hamisi) and Yusuf Chanzu (Vihiga) have since abandoned Raila for Mudavadi perhaps for fear the party wave could sweep them away.

However, UDF faces relatively stiff competition from ODM, which still enjoys support in the county and candidates in these parties could win the battle for the governor seat.

The ODM candidate is a banking professional and party county chairman Kennedy Butiko.

Analysts say the gubernatorial contest is an acid test for Mudavadi who seeks to rally the region behind him and win all elective seats including the governor’s position.

Competing ethnic interests will also dominate the elections in the county, which has three main Luhya sub-tribes; the Maragoli, which is the largest, Banyore and Tiriki.

It remains to be seen whether a power sharing deal brokered with Mudavadi’s backing will prevail. The deal earmarked the governor’s seat for the Banyore from Emuhaya and Luanda districts, Tirikis from Hamisi were apportioned the senator’s position and Maragolis the presidency.

The move, however, elicited opposition from aspirants who view it an undemocratic bid to lock them out.

Among them is former Public Service minister Moses Akaranga (Progressive Party of Kenya), who is seeking a comeback in politics after Mudavadi reclaimed the Sabatia parliamentary seat in 2007 elections.

Race for Academics

Akaranga caused an upset in 2002 polls when he beat Mudavadi, in a battle likened to the biblical duel between David and Goliath.

ODM hopes Speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Marende, who has declared he would defend his position once the 11th Parliament convenes, will help deliver the seat for the party.

Other candidates for the seat include Reuben Kigame of Restore and Build Kenya (RBK party), Dr Francis Inganji of the National Alliance Party of Kenya and university lecturer Prof Justus Inonda Mwanje (Ford-Kenya). Inganji and Mwanje presence and that of Dr Amayi could turn the battle agenda into academics one.

Residents of Vihiga, a county with poor development record, have high hopes the county government head will change a lot. And perhaps the reason the lucrative post has attracted aspirants with impressive academic credentials is because of the region’s lackluster performance in education for many years.

The negotiated democracy deal was a major setback for Akaranga as he hails from Sabatia while the slot he is eyeing was ‘allocated’ to Emuhaya/Luanda. He terms the deal a move to infringe on the constitutional right for candidates. He is relying on his development record when he held the ministerial position.

“I did a lot for people of Vihiga when I was minister. I helped many secure employment and assisted those who had stagnated in their positions for long to get promotions,” Akaranga argues.

Focus on education

The former minister says unemployment rate in the county is worrying and top on his agenda, if elected the CEO, would be to create jobs for the youth.

“I will focus on education by upgrading schools and setting up more to accommodate the growing number of students,” says Akaranga.

He advises voters not to consider political party affiliations while electing a governor but the ability of the candidate to deliver.

Mwanje says he would put more emphasis on security, food production, education, job creation and infrastructure, if elected.

Majority of the residents interviewed by The Standard want a governor who is highly insightful and creative to change the county for better.

The governor will have an uphill task in making sure the county is alleviated from its incumbent slumber and compete favourably in making it a preferred destination.

Presently, the county basically relies on its neighbours and the two major towns bordering it (Kisumu and Kakamega), even for most basic commodities.

Food is imported from the neighbouring Nandi County and as far as Kitale in Trans Nzoia County.