Obure's entry complicates clan battle for Kisii governor seat

The entry of Transport and Infrastructure Chief Administrative Secretary Chris Obure has complicated the race to succeed Kisii Governor James Ongwae.

The 78-year-old on Wednesday declared his bid for the Kisii governor's seat, raising the number of hopefuls to nine.

The CAS dismissed critics who are accusing him of hanging onto politics even in old age, saying he will use his advanced age to turn the tables on rivals.

Analysts say Obure's decision to plunge into the gubernatorial race could reshape the battle, eight months to the polls.

The Star has established that the CAS could be eyeing the Orange Democratic Movement ticket, setting the stage for a bruising battle with rivals.

However, the CAS on Wednesday insisted that he is a Jubilee member.

“For now I'm still in the Jubilee Party and as you all know, the party has very strong ties with the ODM party. Whether it will be ODM or Jubilee Party is immaterial," Obure said.

He said people are not bothered about parties "for now" but are more concerned about what aspirants would offer.

A retired footballer, Obure is among the seasoned politicians from Kisii region aside from 83-year-old Senator Sam Ongeri and Kitutu Chache North MP Jimmy Angwenyi, 76.

With ODM widely perceived as the dominant party in the region, Obure is expected to face off with at least four other hopefuls also eyeing the ticket.

They include Dagoretti South MP Simba Arati, Ongeri, Deputy Governor Joash Maangi and Woman Representative Janet Ong'era.

Ongwae, who is exiting office after completing his two constitutional terms, has vowed to ensure that he leaves the county in safe hands.

Other hopefuls in the race include Nyaribari Masaba MP Ezekiel Machogu, Omingo Magara, Manson Oyongo, Rachel Otundo, Alfred Akunga and Bishop Josiah Onyancha.

“There are people going around talking about the age factor. Age reflects experience and it’s not possible to get experience sometimes without talking about age," Obure said.

 "The age factor is a good attribute and it will give me an edge over other aspirants. I will use it to my advantage."

Obure’s candidature has received a major boost after delegations from Bobasi, Kitutu Chache South, Kitutu Chache North, Bomachoge Borabu, and Bomachoge Chache endorsed him for the seat.

He unsuccessfully ran for the Kisii governorship seat in 2017 and trailed second to Ongwae.

Before decamping to Jubilee in the run-up to the 2017 polls, Obure was an ODM stalwart who alongside the late Zephaniah Anyieni Mogunde and Magara introduced the party to Kisii in 2007.

“This, I believe, gives me the head start as I appeal to our people to consider me for the seat,” Obure said.

The race for Ongwae's successor is unlikely to ignore the historical clan politics that have influenced voting patterns.

Obure hails from the Bobasi clan just like Arati and Ong'era while Magara, an ally of Deputy President William Ruto, and Nyamweya come from South Mugirango.

The Kitutu clan, where Ongwae comes from, is under pressure not to field a candidate for the governorship.

The clan has 109,682 registered voters as per the 2017 IEBC register.

However, Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka has thrown his hat in the ring for the Senate seat as part of a power-sharing deal with Arati.

Nyaribari, where Ongeri comes from, is the biggest clan with 136,793 registered voters, according to the 2017 IEBC register. However, Machogu, the current Nyaribari Masaba MP, is also eyeing the seat.

Bobasi, which fielded Obure, Arati and Ong'era, has 89,310 voters, while Bomachoge clan where Maangi comes from, has 90,826 registered voters.

South Mugirango, which has Magara and Nyamweya gunning for the county top seat, has 67,345 registered voters, while Bonchari-the smallest clan-has 52,624 registered voters.

The county is divided into two regions-Gucha and Kisii Central. 

In the 2013 polls, Obure was part of the ODM team that brokered a county power-sharing deal in which Kitutu, which is in central, got the governor's slot. 

The Senate seat went to Gucha in Bobasi, but in 2017 it was taken by Nyaribari, giving Kisii Central more dominance.

In 2013, the woman representative post went to Bonchari. In 2017,  Bobasi won the seat through Ong'era.

There are speculations that it is time for the seat to go to Gucha in 2022.

However, with a crowded field in Gucha with at least six aspirants - Ong'era, Maangi, Obure, Magara, Nyamweya and Arati - Central could again upset them.

"It might be a game of numbers because if Nyaribari votes as bloc with Kitutu, then they will carry the day again," political analyst Alex Onyancha said.

Arati has already picked former Nyaribari Chache constituency MP Robert Monda as his running mate.