Nationmedia.com News: Syongoh’s threat lies in former MP

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I am surprised i did not see your name as one of the prospective candidates, what happened?

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Syongoh's threat lies in former MP

Published: 7/10/2007

By: DANIEL OTIENO

The battle for Gwassi parliamentary seat will be fought between old political friends and relatives.

Current MP, Zaddock Syongoh, will face former MP Felix Nyauchi in a crowded field in an area where aspirants will be struggling to get onto the ODM Kenya band wagon to increase their chances of election victory.

Others include: Mrs Consolata Yambo Migowa, a businesswoman, Mr Mbuya Yogo, Mr Karoli Gar, Mr Jack Otana, Daystar University lecturer Mr Joshua Ouma Wanjare, Mr Willam Okworo and Mr Ouma Ogunyo.

The man who spearheaded the campaign for Mr Nyauchi, Mr John Mbadi is also in the race.

Gwassi is traditionally the food basket in Nyanza Province with crop and fish in abundance that ensure residents do not starve in times of scarcity.

Fish business has, however, become very competitive with local fishermen complaining that outsiders have invaded their turf.

Those who trade in fish buy the catches at throw away prices but go on to make huge profits in Nairobi and other international markets.

Remained glaring

Though a big chunk of fish is produced in Gwassi, poverty has remained glaring. Candidates will be confronted with questions on poor the infrastructure and biting poverty.

Another factor in determining voting patterns will be the divide between the Luo speaking and the Bantu speaking Basuba where each side is expected to back one of its own for the contest.

The Basuba have at times been referred to as Jomwa, a word that stands for foreigners.

The constituency has two divisions. They are Gwasi with five locations of Gwassi East, Gwassi South, Gwassi West, Gwassi North and Gwassi Central.

The Central Division has only two locations, Kaksingiri and Ruma.

Of great influence in determining the eventual winner, is the clan factor which is likely to see political realignments based on numerical strengths of the individual groupings.

The major clans are Wagasi, Kaksingiri, Wakula, Uregi and Ungoe. There is also a group of immigrants who have moved into the constituency and are residing near the Ruma National park.

The Wagasi is the dominant clan yet it has not managed to successfully sponsor one of their own for the seat.

Within the constituency, Gwassi East, South and West locations are dominated by the majority Kubia sub-clan of Mr Nyauchi, Mrs Migowa and Mr Magani.

Gwassi Central location is dominated by the Kamwenda sub-clan while Gwassi North location is dominated by non-Wagasi sub-clans like Uregi, Ungoe and Wakula.

Kaksingiri is also home to former Cabinet minister Peter Nyakiamo, but with the re-drawing of the constituency boundaries, Mr Nyakiamo and his Kaksingiri clan found themselves overwhelmed by the Wagasi.

If clan arithmetic is anything to go by, then a single candidate from Wagasi sponsored jointly by the sub-clans under it plus with a little backing from elsewhere, would easily do the trick.

But as matters stand the Wagasi vote could be divided. This is because Mr Nyauchi is from the Kubia sub-clan while Mr Syongoh is from the Wakula branch but of the same Wagasi clan.

The choice of a sponsoring party has created a temporary lull in the political activities in the constituency with candidates watching the developments in the ODM Kenya and Narc Kenya camps with keen interest.

But all this will depend on the direction Lang'ata MP Raila Odinga takes them.

In the past, there have been moves by Kanu and now some top brass in the current Government to exploit the Basuba factor to whip up anti-Odingaism sentiments. This has, however, been done without much success.

Although the constituency is one of those Mr Odinga wields influence Mr Syongoh tends to steer clear of the hard line stance taken by most of Mr Odinga's allies from the region.

Secure votes

He turns out as among the moderate voices within the LDP ranks. He is among the few party members who called for "rehabilitation of the Foreign Affairs ministers Raphael Tuju" even as most of his compatriots castigated the minister over his criticism of Mr Odinga.

This is likely to be to Mr Syongoh's advantage because it will put him in the middleground enabling him to secure votes from both the Basuba and Luo speaking residents.

He will be banking on his development record and the fact that he is credited with getting international assistance for projects in the constituency.

Among the projects is the rehabilitation and opening of the Sindo-Nyagwethe-Nyandiwa Rood which had been rendered impassable by the heavy rains. He has also facilitated a rural electrification project and the refurbishing of several schools and health facilities in his area.

His critics, however, say that like most MPs, he chose the Constituency Development Fund management committee from among his cronies and that he has concentrated development projects in his backyard.

Mr Nyauchi is eager to reclaim the seat and is pointing to a long list of achievements ranging from establishment of a constituency bursary fund, construction of the Sh37 million Koguta-Sindo Road using the El-Nino funds to numerous fund-raising activities that he has held in the area as sufficient reasons for his people to consider him for a second term.

The only female aspirant in the race, Mrs Migowa is hoping to capitalise on women voters. But she has to fight it out with her brother in-law Mr Nyauchi for the same block of votes.

Other than Mr Syongoh and Mr Nyauchi who can talk of a development record, it is too early to pick out a single candidate from the remaining group as a favourite.

The picture is likely to become clearer once the confusions dogging the main political parties are resolved.