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Powerful Interior cabinet secretary Fred Matiang’i is having sleepless nights over the looming Bonchari by-election. If Jubilee loses, it will be the beginning of his tribulations in president Uhuru Kenyatta succession race. Matiang’i’s name features prominently among those mentioned to succeed Uhuru after being named super minister. Within Raila Odinga’s ODM and William Ruto camps, Matiang’i is viewed suspiciously. To the camps, he is being used by deep state in which he belongs to stop the two ascending to presidency by using state machanary and being sold among the Gusii community as alternative centre of power to deny them the region vote bloc. That ODM leader Raila is not comfortable with Matiang’i was seen recently when he rejected a plan by Uhuru handlers to withdraw the ODM candidate in the Bonchari by-election and back Jubilee.
Fred Matiangi
Word has it that Matiang’i was behind the push for the ODM withdrawal bid. The first meeting to have ODM withdraw was held in Matiang’i’s office. After getting briefed, Raila called Kisii leaders to his Karen home where he read them the riot act. The Harambee House meeting where those invited were not told the agenda was attended by Matiang’i, Kisii governor James Ongwae, Senator Sam Ongeri, Jubilee secretary general Raphael Tuju, Raila’s brother Oburu Odinga and ODM treasurer Timothy Bosire. Interior chief administrative secretary Winnie Guchu also attended the two-hour meeting. The pressure was to have ODM withdraw Parvel Oimeke in favour of Jubilee’s Zebedeo Opore.
Pavel Oimeke
The by-election is set for May 18. What surprised ODM was the Jubilee revelation, two opinion polls conducted in Bonchari independent pollsters had results showing Opore was leading at 27pc from 26pc. ODM believes state security machinery was used to conduct the opinion polls and is part of the strategy to have Opore win. According to poll results, Oimeke was trailing with 14pc up from 4pc he polled in an initial survey. Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance candidate Teresa Bitutu had 26pc in the recent poll up from 14pc. Three candidates for the by-elections have dismissed claims that voters in the area had resolved to support the late MP Oroo Oyioka’s widow, Teresa, to succeed him.
Zebedeo Opore
Jonah Ondieki of TND party, Mary Otara of UGM party and Margaret Nyabuto of MCC party said that the idea to support Bitutu was brought by outsiders from the constituency led by gubernatorial candidate Rachael Otundo from Nyaribari clan and his brothers from Bomachoge clan. Otara observed that Bitutu is believed to be a project because she was given the UDA direct party ticket by outsiders from the area led by deputy governor Joash Maangi, Bobasi MP Innocent Obiri, South Mugirango MP Silvanus Osoro, former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara, former Kisii mayor Samwel Omwando and politician Antony Kibagendi from the Bogetutu clan.
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