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Page 18 September 16, 2012/ STANDARD ON SUNDAY POWER & POLITICS
Strategy: Most contenders are playing tribal arithmetic in a cosmopolitan constituency. How aspirants are angling for Kajiado North IIOHS ole 5akucla· 11IA Peter IIOSitet-GDM 5alaon Kashorda·UDF
By ABDIKADIR SUGOW still mounting a protracted effort to make an impact, well aware that the policies and issues affecting the lo among the Kikuyu and tl1C Maasai Community interests have turned Kangema seat, which will hold its by cal residents unlike other parties people," says Councillor Magelo, a the Kajiado North parliamentary by election on the same day, is probably which were gambling on the ethnic close confidante of the late Saitoti. election race into a delicate balanc out of their reach. ODM is also strug cards. Magelo says the Maa community ing act for the main political par gling to rally its forces behind its can "Our campaign is not based on has felt cheated for a long time and tics. didate Augustinho Neto in Ndhiwa tribal issues but leadership qualities tl1erefore will always be wa ry of sus After years under Prof George following a nomination fiasco to pick and services to be delivered by ole pect political groupings. Saitoti, a former vice-president with Ojodeh's successor. Sakuda," said Mate, adding thatTNA "Kajiado North voters thougbt roots in two of the constituency's The man who gaveSaitoti a torrid values a united Kenya irrespective of G7 alliance members, particularly three largest ethnic groups, Kajiado time in the 2007, Moses ole Sakuda, ethnic backgrounds. He said the TNA and the Wiper would, as a gond North is scrambling to decide who has since shifted to TNA, an act party has been telHng voters how it gesture. would leave PNU to field a fills the big man's shoes. which appears to have inspired a po plans to tackle and resolve.their day candidate for tl1e seat, but this never Voters expected to field a presi litical backlash from his own Maasai to-day problems.However, Wiper's materialised and instead open com dential candidate in the General kinsmen and also from his former Kajiado North campaign team lead petition erupted," Magelo says. Election and perhaps get his direc party, which has shrewdly responded er. Kangundo MP Johnstone Mutha He says unlike Saitoti, the cur tion on who would step in at the with a tactical endorsement of Peter ma, dismissed tl1e TNA claims as rent crop.ofleaders from both com constituency level. That dream, how Mositet, also a Maasai. Interestingly, baseless and described Mate's re munities is unlikely to bring their + ever, was cruelly shattered after Sai but not uncommon, both are mar marks as 'the last lcicks of a dying community members together. toti died in a helicopter crash in his ried to Kikuyu women. horse' as he predicted that the TNA However, in tl1e next General constituency on June 10. The contest During the last elections, Saitoti party would lose handsomely in the Election scheduled on March 4, to take over his mantle is drawing defeated SaJ..."Uda, prompting him to by-election." Kenyans are convinced 2013, the constituency which was various forces into the fray. file an unsuccessful petition. that our party speaks and stands for split into two wi ll see d1C Kikuyu Saitori had planned to unveil his There should be some consola the truth," said Muthama. leadership battle it out in Kajiado presidential campaign apparatus tion though for ODM despite its But politician Alex ole Magelo North because they predominantly the very week he died. His death strategists apprehensions regarding feels Maasais have for long been giv inhabit this area (Ongata Rongai and changed the dynamics of the presi their candidate's chances of causing en a raw deal in any arrangement in Ngong), while the Maasai politicians dential race, but has had an even an upset, word from the ground in the constituency. "It will never be and a large segment of their voters more dramatic impact in Kajiado dicate he could be the 'dark horse'. the same again. Monday's by-elec will remain in Kajiado West. North, where he had been Member As the voting time gets closer. tion will expose \vider division of Parliament for 24 years. It also re there is apparemly no clear favou vived ethnic jostling Saitoti had rite, with either Mositet, Sakuda, or largely kept buried in the cosmopol Wiper Democratic Party's Solomon itan constituency in the heartland of Kinyanjui being the next MP. the Maasai (Maa) community. Sources familiar with the political It is no secret Saitoti (Joseph Mu campaigns say Kikuyu votes, the ma thcngi) was a Kikuyu from Kiambu, jority, could be shared among the Kangema as pi rants invoke Cen tral Province, adopted by the top three aspirants who in one way Maa. His departure has seen the or the other are affiliated to the By WAINAINA NDUNG'U candidate, john Gathogo. Majority tri bal arithmetic that dogs many members of the Maasai communi and BONIFACE GIKANDI of the candidates hail from tl1e up Area MPs since other constilllcncies emerge in the ty. per region of the constituency, by-elect ion. The race is a chesshoard The race to succeed tl1e late leaving Simon Mwangl of UDF as Independence of equations involving three major Maa goodwill John Njoroge Michuki entered its the only one from the lower lyego Dr Gikonyo Kiano (Mbiri constitu· communities- the Maasai, Kikuyu Mositet, who our sources indicate last stretch this week, wid1 the six Location. However, the Party of Na encvl -1963·1969 and Kamba, and three main poiHical appears to be enjoying the goodwill candidates invoking the name of tional Unity (PN U) strategist, Peter Mwangi Thayu: 1966·1974 parties- Uhuru Kenyatta's TNA, Rai of a significant part of the Maa com the late Cabinet minister to win Kagwanja, says fielding of candi la Odinga's ODM and Kalonzo Musy munity, has been making door-to votes in the by-election tomorrow. dates by the TNA to replace PNU John Joseph Kamotho: 1974·1983 oka'sWiper. Saitoti's PNU appears to door campaigns while Sakuda has Michuki was known in his MPs in Kangema and Kajiado Joftn Njoroge llidtuki: 1983-1988 have been relegated to the periph made inroads and has goodwill of Ki Kangema constituency for his im North constituencies was ill ad JoM Joseph Kamotho: 1988·1992 ery, while William Ruto's URP and kuyu voters. peccable record in public service vised. Musalia Mudavadi's UDF may just Kinyanjui, a Kilcuyu, hopes to at delivery. "One of the greatest damage John Njoroce llichtlki: 1992·2012 he in the race for a show. tract votes from his community. As the campaigns reach home that TNA has done to the PNU is TNA Direcwr of Political Strategy stretch, aspirants have been meet fielding candidate in these constit Voter tum out Kariuki Mate says their candidate is ing opinion leaders from the re uencies to replace PNU MPs,n he Prof Kagwanja says Kangema Numbers and figures (read po confident of victory despite concert gion, including civic leaders and says. had always elected an asture, well tential votes) are being juggled by ed efforts by rival political parties he elite to win their support. La,..ely Ignored educated politicians to Parliament the secretariats of the main con claims are playing'tribal politics'. "We Presidential hopefuls, Uhuru Nevertheless, the five Murang'a who later rise to national promi renders and while the latest trends are doing well on the ground, al Kenyatta, Peter Kenneth, Musalia Countv MPs have avoided the cam nence, a factor, he adds, could put give TNA, an upper edge, ODM and though there is a last minute desper Mudavadi, and Raila Odinga have paigns. One MP argues rhat they TNA's Ngahu behind Mugo. Mugo Wiper candidates arc capable of ation by rival parties, particularly shown interest in Kangema and felt ignored, especially after they holds a Master's degree in Business pulling off a surprise, going by the Wiper, which is trying to innuence Kajiado parli amentary seats. gor invitations through text mes Administration and is said to have traditionally unpredictable voter voters by telling them that their can TNA leader Uhuru Kenyatta has sages to join Uhuru in Kangema. strong poli tical support from the turnouts in by-elections. That is why didate, a Kikuyu, has a headstart toured the area to campaign forTi The candidates include, Tiras locals after he emerged second af lJhuru and Raila have literally hit the with tl1e Kamba bloc votes, so they ras Ngahu. ODM's Raila Odinga Nyingi Ngahu (TNA), Simon ter the late Michuki in the 2007 ground stumping for their party can should not 'waste' their vote on the and Musalia Mudavadi for UDF are Mwangi (UOF), Muturi Kigano (Sa elections. didates in the constituency. Well wrong person," said Mate.l-le said also expected to hold fierce cam ba Saba Asili), Njuguna Mwangi Ngahu is a former high school placed sources withjn ODM have ex since the by-election campaigns paign batUes ahead of the by-elec (Mzalendo Saba Saba), john Gatho teacher and is in the insurance in pressed their concern with lcicked off, TNA has been displaying tions. ODM is supporting the Mke go (Mkenya Solidarity Movement), dustry. UDF's Mwangi holds a de calculations of their chances, but are a national outlook by addressing nya Solidarity Movement and Paul Kimani Mugo (PNU). gree in commerce and has been a