TWO WOMEN JOIN PARLIAMENTARY RACE AGAINST OCHILLO AYACKO IN RONGO

12/23/2006
GRANTS WECHE MOKADHO AGAJA KUYO BARUPE WECHE DONGRUOK MBAKA NONRO JEXJALUO NGECHE LUO GI GWENG' THUM TEDO LUO KITGI GI TIMBEGI SIGENDNI LUO THUOND WECHE ;	Kisumu 23/12/2006 TWO WOMEN JOIN PARLIAMENTARY RACE AGAINST OCHILLO AYACKO IN RONGO By Leo Odera Omolo RONGO parliamentary electoral constituency is likely to feature prominently during the year 2007 general election now only eleven months away. This agriculturally rich rural farming constituency is so important in the old greater southern Nyanza region, though it is located in the northern part of Migori district. It borders several constituencies which include South Mugirango in the North East, Kilgoris in the East,Migori in the South,Uriri in the South West,Ndhiwa in the South West and Homabay in the North West. It has small but very slim borders with Bonchari also in the North East. Leading cash crops include the two most lucrative cash crops which are grown in the area in abundance .These are Sugar cane which is crushed at the nearby Awendo based Sony Sugar factory and Tobacco. The area which is also nicknamed as the "Granary" of South Nyanza produces a lot of maize, which is the staple food for many Kenyans. Other crops like groundnuts, tea, coffee, bananas, and vegetables are also grown in Rongo in abundance. Rongo, an area which has an adequate rainfall throughout the year is significantly important for producing two crops in a year. The first is during the long rains covering April-August and during the short rains covering September -December. Of late farmers in Rongo have joined the ranks of keeping graded dairy animals as opposed to other neighbouring constituencies where the farmers still retain a lot of native Zebu cattle for both beef and milk. Rongo is also an area which is endowed with minerals such as Gold. In the early 1930s up to 1952 a multinational British Company mined Gold at Kitere Gold Mines which closed down in the mid of 1950s. Both Kuja and Riana river valleys are rich in gold .The still yet to be tapped gold deposits are said to be in abundance in God Nyinyo in Kamwango area which stretcheds from Riana to Kuja river in Kabuoch. Contentious issues which are likely to feature prominently during the next year's election campaigns is the question of the new Rongo district headquarters. Rongo has three administration Divisions namely Awendo, Rongo and Uriri. But Uriri is a separate constituency by itself. This leaves Rongo with Awendo and Rongo town. There has been a tug of war and sharp disagreements as to which place between Awendo and Rongo towns the district headquarters should be established. Some people appear to favour Rongo town, arguing that the area has sufficient land and facilities for the establishment of the new headquarters whereas Awendo town is surrounded by the Sony Sugar cane nucleus estates. Other arguments strongly being advocated and pushed forward especially by the residents of Uriri is that Awendo is centrally located therefore the most suitable place for the planned new Rongo district headquarters Besides this the politics of Rongo is known to gravitate around the multibillion shillings Sony Sugar company factory which is based in Awendo town. The sugar complex has so far contracted close to 25,000 small scale farmers in five administrative districts of Migori, Kuria, Gucha, Homa-Bay and Trans-Mara. The factory is also receiving cane from a similar number of non-contracted farmers from the region Currently Sony Sugar is financially strapped, with payments due to farmers for the cane delivered and crashed lagging behind in payment arrears which is running up to six months. But the team of management under Mr. Benard Otieno the MD is struggling to correct the abnormalities and they have promised it won't take too long before the situation is normalized. This is an LDP/ODM-K stronghold but the political situation has already been diluted on the ground by the new alignment and merger between the former ruling party KANU and the LDP. The new merger has created a new political dimension because it has brought over board the old KANU stalwart like Mr.Dalmas Otieno who is arguably one of the best known skillful politicians in the region. Otieno presence in the ODM-K appears to threaten the possible re-election of the youthful member Hon. George Mbogo Ochillo Ayacko who has represented the area ever since the re-emergence of multiparty plural system of politics in Kenya in the early 1990. Ayacko was elected to parliament for the first time in Dec 1992. So far ten new aspirants have already declared their interest in the Rongo seat. Jared Odhiambo Ngura (Central Sakwa),Fred Wagoro (South Kamagambo), Mrs. Agnes Awinja Okon'go (Central Sakwa), Ong'ondo Ng'ani (Kamagambo Kamwango), Prof Erick Otieno(East Sakwa Waware) the incumbent George M. Ochillo Ayacko (East Sakwa Waware), Mrs. Jane Ayiepo (Central Kamagambo), Omondi Akoth (South Sakwa-Alego), Gradus Oluoch Adis (Central Kamagambo) and Dalmas Otieno (Central Kamagambo) The constituency has about 63,000 registered voters and second only to Kasipul Kabondo in Rachuonyo district. Personalities involved in the race DALMAS OTIENO ANYANGO He is a Makerere University trained economist. He became the first Rongo MP since the constituency interception when it was hived out of the old larger Homa-Bay in 1988. But he lost to the late John Linus Amodi Polo in 1992. Otieno who had excelled in business is considered as the most mature and dynamic politician in the area. He made tremendous achievements during his tenure 1988-1992 during which time he served as a Cabinet Minister in various ministries in the KANU regime. MRS AGNESS AWINJO OKONGO She is a former school teacher who rose through the ranks and retired as a senior educationist. She is currently running her own insurance brokerage firm in Kisumu City. She hails from the populous Jo-Sakwa Kamasoga in Central Sakwa location. Her candidature is likely to give the incumbent Hon Ochillo Ayacko some hectic time .She is credited for her oratory abilities in public address. FRED WAGORO He is a young lawyer practicing in Kisumu City. His candidature is yet to have an impact. He hails from Kanyamwa sub-clan of Jo-Kamagambo. PROF ERICK OTIENO Prof. Erick Otieno hails from the same Wawore sub-location with Hon Ochillo Ayacko. He is the professor of physics and sciences at the Maseno University and also a director of Osienala, an NGO which is running its own radio station (Radio Victoria) and beach banks for the fishermen. His candidature would hurt the incumbent Ochillo Ayacko the most and hit him the hardest because the two hails from the same Waware sub-location in East Sakwa location though from different sub-clans. ONG'ONDO NG'ANI He is a director of the KPLC and a Nairobi and Rongo businessman. He hails from Kamwango sub-clan of the larger Kamagambo Ng'ani is not a newcomer to the race. He had tried once but this time around is said to have prepared the stand ready to clinch the seat owing to the fact that he hails from the far North of the constituency where he has no other opponent. Ng'ani is one of the three people currently facing a legal suit filed by Hon Ayacko at the high court in Kisii seeking damage for defamation of characters. JARED ODHIAMBO NGURA He is the national chairman of KUSCO and works with an NGO. He hails from Central Sakwa Komolo Rume He is from a well known and highly respected family of church elder and committed leader the late Mzee Erastus Ngura. He is also facing a legal suit filed by Ayacko for defamation of characters in which he is enjoined. JARED OWUOR He works with an NGO and is formerly a school teacher. His influence in the constituency is yet to be assessed. His academic qualifications were also not immediately made available. MRS. JANE AKEYO She hails from Dalmas Otieno's Kangeso sub-clan in Kamagambo West location and is said to be working at the Kisii DC's office as a clerk with department of registration of persons. Her candidature is yet to make any significant impact. She is simply being dismissed as an Ochillo Ayacko agent out to play a spoiler role. OMONDI AKOTH He hails from Alego sub- location in South Sakwa and lived in the US. His academic background is yet to be made public. He is also yet to make major impact into the constituency. GRADUS OLUOCH ADIS This is young lawyer working for a private firm in Nairobi. He is of late been frequenting Rongo constituency participating in Harambee fundraising for schools and other needed public amenities He hails from the dominant Jo-Kanayajuok sub-clan of the Jo-Kamagambo group. His candidature is expected to cause a lot of problems to other aspirants from central and west Kamagambo area in the concentration of voting bloc in Kanyajuok which is the most populous sub-clan if clanism is anything to go by. The election forward is therefore expected to center between Dalmas Otieno Mrs. Awinja Okongo, Ongondo Ngari. Prof. Otieno and the Nairobi lawyer Gradus Oluoch Adic ENDS leooderaomolo@yahoo.com The writer is LUOCOME REPORTER based in Kisumu. We urge all LUOCOME members with pressing issues pertaining to media and press releases to kindly contact him from any where in world. He will assist you to get true picture of your Village Developement. LUOCOME-MEDIA ===================================================== Joluo.com Ka in gi mari moro ma di wandik ka to orni Akelo nyar Kager, jaluo@jaluo.com Daher winjo dwondi in bende, iwinjo?	IDWARO TICH? GALAMORO : Riwruok mar JOLUO e Piny Ngima, orwaku uduto mondo ubed e kanyakla mar burani. Ornwa nyingi gi nondi kaka obedo. Riwruok e teko joka Nyanam. WENDO MIWA PARO OD PAKRUOK

Kisumu
23/12/2006

TWO WOMEN JOIN PARLIAMENTARY RACE AGAINST OCHILLO AYACKO IN RONGO

By Leo Odera Omolo

RONGO parliamentary electoral constituency is likely to feature prominently
during the year 2007 general election now only eleven months away.

This agriculturally rich rural farming constituency is so important in the old
greater southern Nyanza region, though it is located in the northern part of
Migori district.

It borders several constituencies which include South Mugirango in the North
East, Kilgoris in the East,Migori in the South,Uriri in the South West,Ndhiwa in
the South West and Homabay in the North West. It has small but very slim borders with Bonchari also in the North East.

   Leading cash crops include the two most lucrative cash crops which are grown in the area in abundance .These are Sugar cane which is crushed at the nearby Awendo based Sony Sugar factory and Tobacco. The area which is also nicknamed as the "Granary" of South Nyanza produces a lot of maize, which is the staple food for many Kenyans. Other crops like groundnuts, tea, coffee, bananas, and vegetables are also grown in Rongo in abundance.

Rongo, an area which has an adequate rainfall throughout the year is significantly important for producing two crops in a year. The first is during
the long rains covering April-August and during the short rains covering
September -December.

Of late farmers in Rongo have joined the ranks of keeping graded dairy animals as opposed to other neighbouring constituencies where the farmers still retain a lot of native Zebu cattle for both beef and milk.

Rongo is also an area which is endowed with minerals such as Gold. In the
early 1930s up to 1952 a multinational British Company mined Gold at Kitere
Gold Mines which closed down in the mid of 1950s.

Both Kuja and Riana river valleys are rich in gold .The still yet to be tapped
gold deposits are said to be in abundance in God Nyinyo in Kamwango area which stretcheds from Riana to Kuja river in Kabuoch.

Contentious issues which are likely to feature prominently during the next
year's election campaigns is the question of the new Rongo district headquarters.

Rongo has three administration Divisions namely Awendo, Rongo and Uriri. But Uriri is a separate constituency by itself. This leaves Rongo with Awendo and Rongo town. There has been a tug of war and sharp disagreements as to which place between Awendo and Rongo towns the district headquarters should be established.

Some people appear to favour Rongo town, arguing that the area has sufficient land and facilities for the establishment of the new headquarters whereas Awendo town is surrounded by the Sony Sugar cane nucleus estates.

Other arguments strongly being advocated and pushed forward especially by the residents of Uriri is that Awendo is centrally located therefore the most
suitable place for the planned new Rongo district headquarters

Besides this the politics of Rongo is known to gravitate around the
multibillion shillings Sony Sugar company factory which is based in Awendo town. The sugar complex has so far contracted close to 25,000 small scale farmers in five administrative districts of Migori, Kuria, Gucha, Homa-Bay and Trans-Mara. The factory is also receiving cane from a similar number of non-contracted farmers from the region

Currently Sony Sugar is financially strapped, with payments due to farmers for
the cane delivered and crashed lagging behind in payment arrears which is
running up to six months. But the team of management under Mr. Benard Otieno the MD is struggling to correct the abnormalities and they have promised it won't take too long before the situation is normalized.

This is an LDP/ODM-K stronghold but the political situation has already been
diluted on the ground by the new alignment and merger between the former ruling party KANU and the LDP.

The new merger has created a new political dimension because it has brought
over board the old KANU stalwart like Mr.Dalmas Otieno who is arguably one of the best known skillful politicians in the region. Otieno presence in the ODM-K appears to threaten the possible re-election of the youthful member Hon. George Mbogo Ochillo Ayacko who has represented the area ever since the re-emergence of multiparty plural system of politics in Kenya in the early 1990. Ayacko was elected to parliament for the first time in Dec 1992.

So far ten new aspirants have already declared their interest in the Rongo
seat. Jared Odhiambo Ngura (Central Sakwa),Fred Wagoro (South Kamagambo), Mrs. Agnes Awinja Okon'go (Central Sakwa), Ong'ondo Ng'ani (Kamagambo Kamwango), Prof Erick Otieno(East Sakwa Waware) the incumbent George M. Ochillo Ayacko (East Sakwa Waware), Mrs. Jane Ayiepo (Central Kamagambo), Omondi Akoth (South Sakwa-Alego), Gradus Oluoch Adis (Central Kamagambo) and Dalmas Otieno (Central Kamagambo)

The constituency has about 63,000 registered voters and second only to Kasipul Kabondo in Rachuonyo district.

Personalities involved in the race

DALMAS OTIENO ANYANGO
He is a Makerere University trained economist. He became the first Rongo MP since the constituency interception when it was hived out of the old larger
Homa-Bay in 1988. But he lost to the late John Linus Amodi Polo in 1992.

Otieno who had excelled in business is considered as the most mature and
dynamic politician in the area. He made tremendous achievements during his
tenure 1988-1992 during which time he served as a Cabinet Minister in various
ministries in the KANU regime.

MRS AGNESS AWINJO OKONGO
She is a former school teacher who rose through the ranks and retired as a
senior educationist. She is currently running her own insurance brokerage firm
in Kisumu City.

She hails from the populous Jo-Sakwa Kamasoga in Central Sakwa location. Her candidature is likely to give the incumbent Hon Ochillo Ayacko some hectic time .She is credited for her oratory abilities in public address.

FRED WAGORO
He is a young lawyer practicing in Kisumu City. His candidature is yet to have
an impact. He hails from Kanyamwa sub-clan of Jo-Kamagambo.

PROF ERICK OTIENO
Prof. Erick Otieno hails from the same Wawore sub-location with Hon Ochillo Ayacko. He is the professor of physics and sciences at the Maseno University and also a director of Osienala, an NGO which is running its own radio station (Radio Victoria) and beach banks for the fishermen. His candidature would hurt the incumbent Ochillo Ayacko the most and hit him the hardest because the two hails from the same Waware sub-location in East Sakwa location though from different sub-clans.

ONG'ONDO NG'ANI
He is a director of the KPLC and a Nairobi and Rongo businessman. He hails
from Kamwango sub-clan of the larger Kamagambo

Ng'ani is not a newcomer to the race. He had tried once but this time around
is said to have prepared the stand ready to clinch the seat owing to the fact
that he hails from the far North of the constituency where he has no other opponent.

Ng'ani is one of the three people currently facing a legal suit filed by Hon
Ayacko at the high court in Kisii seeking damage for defamation of characters.

JARED ODHIAMBO NGURA
He is the national chairman of KUSCO and works with an NGO. He hails from Central Sakwa Komolo Rume

He is from a well known and highly respected family of church elder and
committed leader the late Mzee Erastus Ngura.

He is also facing a legal suit filed by Ayacko for defamation of characters in
which he is enjoined.

JARED OWUOR
   He works with an NGO and is formerly a school teacher. His influence in the
constituency is yet to be assessed. His academic qualifications were also not
immediately made available.

MRS. JANE AKEYO
     She hails from Dalmas Otieno's Kangeso sub-clan in Kamagambo West location and is said to be working at the Kisii DC's office as a clerk with department of registration of persons.

Her candidature is yet to make any significant impact. She is simply being
dismissed as an Ochillo Ayacko agent out to play a spoiler role.

OMONDI AKOTH
     He hails from Alego sub- location in South Sakwa and lived in the US. His
academic background is yet to be made public. He is also yet to make major
impact into the constituency.

GRADUS OLUOCH ADIS
     This is young lawyer working for a private firm in Nairobi. He is of late
been frequenting Rongo constituency participating in Harambee fundraising for
schools and other needed public amenities

He hails from the dominant Jo-Kanayajuok sub-clan of the Jo-Kamagambo group. His candidature is expected to cause a lot of problems to other aspirants from central and west Kamagambo area in the concentration of voting bloc in Kanyajuok which is the most populous sub-clan if clanism is anything to go by.

The election forward is therefore expected to center between Dalmas Otieno
Mrs. Awinja Okongo, Ongondo Ngari. Prof. Otieno and the Nairobi lawyer Gradus Oluoch Adic

ENDS
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

The writer is LUOCOME REPORTER based in Kisumu. We urge all LUOCOME members with pressing issues pertaining to media and press releases to kindly contact him from any where in world. He will assist you to get true picture of your Village Developement.
LUOCOME-MEDIA