The Migori by-election just concluded and the Orange Democratic Movement’s candidate Ochillo Ayacko winning against the 27 year old Eddy Oketch.
However a heated debate has rose as to whether party leader Raila Odinga’s grip on the region is decreasing.
According to Kericho County senator, Mr Aaron Cheruyiot, “I am just as shocked as most political observers in Kenya. And all I want to understand is how a young political novice can get an experienced hand like Baba (Raila) and his ODM brigade to sweat it out to deliver such a narrow victory,”
His sentiments captured the lingering questions on the minds of many.
However the National Assembly Minority Leader Junnet Muhamed, insisted that the race was not easy but all that mattered was winning
In addition, a local politician, Mr Tom Alila, indicated that the ODM was on the verge of losing the Migori elections until the party leader Raila Odinga intervened
He further said that the odds were heavily stacked against Mr Ayacko after he was handpicked for the ODM ticket amid protests from Migori Governor Okoth Obado who is Ayacko’s political nemesis. The county also has a huge non-Luo population that is gradually pulling away from the Odinga party.
Governor Obado who is currently in custody over the murder of Sharon Otieno was campaigning for Mr. Oketch and is said to have had the backing of Mr Obado and Deputy President William Ruto.
According Mr Alila a Jubilee politician, “Contrary to the notion that Mr Odinga’s popularity is waning, for me this poll has demonstrated that people can still listen to the ODM leader and accord him his wish. Otherwise, this time around, most of us were certain things were looking very bad for him.”
Migori is the most cosmopolitan of the counties in Luo Nyanza region. With eight constituencies, Migori is also home to members of the Kuria community, who occupy Kuria East and Kuria West constituencies. There are also pockets of the Maragoli community in Uriri and the Somali in Suna East where Mr Muhamed is Member of Parliament.
The Oketch campaign team was partly banking on this cosmopolitan nature of the county to deliver victory to him and the Federal Party of Kenya. And although the ODM candidate won in seven out of the eight constituencies in the county, Okech performed relatively well in Kuria East and Kuria West constituencies. Obado’s deputy governor hails from the Kuria community, which has had a beef to pick with Mr Odinga for disregarding a 2013 power-sharing arrangement requiring that a member of the community serves as senator.
Mr Oketch also largely rode on the back of Mr Obado’s solid support base. In fact to some, this was round-three of nerve-wrecking Obado-Ayacko battle this year alone — the first being in the ODM nominations and on August 8 at the IEBC supervised poll. This explains why Okech carried the day in Uriri — his and Obado’s home constituency.
But also unknown to many, though, the young politician also gave a good showing owing to his personal political credentials.