Scheduled for November 7th, Kibra mini poll will remain one of the fiercely contested by-elections after the handshake as the country maintains its campaign mood ahead of 2022 elections which are expected to be a do or die duel between DP William Ruto and ODM Leader Raila Odinga.
Ruto being the cunning politicians that he is, chose to face the coming kibra mini polls as a shemeji derby (Gor Mahia vs AFC Leopards) kind of thing. He set Luos against Luhyas. He is responsible for the rumours that made rounds that former Harambee Stars skipper Dennis Oliech would contest before introducing ‘Project Mariga’.
That rumor or lie alone was enough to shake the voting patterns in a constituency considered an ODM stronghold. Former soccer star McDonald Mariga went through hitches to make it the ‘finals’. Irregular registration, questionable birth dates and his inability to back his candidature was hilarious but whatever it is, the betting maestro will be on the ballot.
It could be ‘a match’ he never prepared for but he serves a better bait for Ruto to trap the western vote bloc. Western is considered a giant bloc that never speaks in one voice but that’s more of a myth like tyranny of numbers thing. Over 70% of the Luhyas have voted with Odinga over a period of time and that’s the pattern Ruto aims to disrupt and reap from.
He has been hosting Luhya Mps over the weekends in his Sugoi home and gifting them with payolas. That must bear fruits for the self-proclaimed hustler, he must get a good slice of the Luhya vote. Kibra polls will play the best charm offensive role. It has exposed the cracks in NASA incase the coalition still exists.
ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi has fielded a candidate Eliud Owalo, a former Raila aide who was kicked out of ODM for misappropriating campaign cash. Ford K Leaders Moses Wetangula was also seen campaigning alongside Musalia, he could be supporting ANC candidate or just playing the obvious tribal card in pretense of Luhya unity.
Weta must be a bitter man, ODM stripped him the senate Minority Leader position and replaced him with Siaya Senator James Orengo. They have enough problems to be grouped together by DP and get paid to play the spoiler role. In fact, word has it, Weta is a property on sale and Ruto has paid the deposit.
Kibra may be an ODM strong hold, they may retain the seat but they will remain seriously bruised after the battle. Ruto is coming with all his guns out, Luhya leaders look desperate and acting overzealous to take chances and see how voting against Raila would be as they rake in from Ruto, a move that will majorly influence their voting pattern in 2022.
Ruto through projects Mariga, ANC and Wetangula will shake the support Raila enjoys from the Luhya nation. His key men from the region are silent, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya who has his declared interest in presidency has steered off the Kibra debate. Oparanya is actually on record saying that he is ready to quit ODM contest for the top seat in 2022. That a person with his mind made up and can easily settle in Ruto’s pocket to contest and spoil for Raila in 2022.
Ruto through his financial muscles is assembling a strong army and he means serious business when he is charging in. He is encroaching into Raila’s tuff, buying his peers and disrupting events. His latest card is unique; it is working on cutting Raila’s empire into small sizes. His Tanga Tanga branches in central are doing amazing mobilizing works in churches and funerals. The card he is playing Kibra will reap big in swing vote regions, central and western.
The battl is now all out for the people to see, kibra mini polls will be a shemeji derby. Luhyas feel they have numbers but Luo people have crazy influence over soft opponents like Luhyas. They call it a special software, tialala, tibim and more empty things and the nonsense making politics stays on.
