MBITA MP OTIENO KAJWANG UNDER SIEGE

BY JEFF OTIENO
  FREELANCE JOURNALIST BASED IN KISUMU - KENYA
  EMAIL:   jeffotieno AT yahOo DoT  Com
  P.O. BOX 242, KISUMU – KENYA
  MOBILE NO. 0720 616 018

Vocal Mbita Constituency legislator Gerald Otieno Kajwang is currently walking a tight political rope as the General Elections approaches.

A spot check in the constituency by this journalist reveals how bitter the constituents are with their MP who they say is pre-occupied with endless press conferences in Nairobi under the aegies of tackling National issues at their expense.

Kajwang who is serving his second term is further being accused by his voters for turning Constituency Development Funds (C.D.F) as his personal property to favour only areas of his political cronies.

For starters, Kajwang is a among senior Luo Politicians who have always had it very easy during electioneering process, thanks to their proximity with the Luo King Pin Raila Odinga,.

Others who have always clung on Raila’s coat for survival to evade competitive, fair, and rigorous electioneering battle are the beleagured Nyakach MP Peter Ochieng Odoyo whose political noose has been tightened by Kisumu business Magnet Ochieng Daima, embattled Karachuonyo MP Paul Adhu Awiti who will require divine intervention to survive the onslaughts of resilient former influential Permanent Secretary Eng. James Rege, Muhoroni Prof. Ayiecho Olweny, and temperamental Gem legislator Jackoyo Midiwo who will have to redouble his tacts to thwart the schemes of a wealthy Nairobi based advocate Ambrose Rachier who is banking on his unrivalled development track record to propel his bid.

Crowning the lady luck list is Rongo MP Ochilo Ayacko who will this time round brace for the tormenting claws of former powerful cabinet minister Dalmas Otieno Anyango.

Back to Mbita, no formidable candidate has openly emerged to face the eloquent Kajwang. But if the prevailing rumours are any thing to go by that a senor polished civil servant by the name Sam Wakiaga (Wuod Ruoth) is to resign soon and join the fray, then the legislator has got a memorable mountain to climb to retain his seat by the end of the year.

For almost a decade, Wakiaga has been silently associating himself with community based development initiatives like Mbita Fish Cooling Plant, building schools, Churches and assisting destitute children.

In a bid to clip his political wings, Kajwang and his die hards have tried in futility to entrench their slander schemes against the soft spoken wealthy Wakiaga. “Even a million hobbling from one religious sect to the other like Legio Maria won’t salvage the MP”, gloated a fish monger in Rusinga Island.

The besieged financially crippled politician has further earmarked the services of his brother who is working KENGEN Nairobi headquarters to help him source for finances through the help of two committees one based in Kisumu and the other in Nairobi to lubricate his dry campaign kitty.

Perturbed by what Wakiaga’s resilience in the ground, a secret meeting was recently held in Kisumu by a group operating under the flagship Rusinga Development initiative said to be bankrolled by Kajwang to prevail upon Luo defacto leader Raila Odinga to prevail upon Wakiaga not to religuish his lucrative government position to contest the Mbita seat.

According to impeccable sources, the meeting is slated for the second week of July 2007. It will be interesting to see how Raila Odinga will handle such an undemocratic scheme as a renown Crusader of democratic tenets and good governance.

END