The Siaya county senatorial contest is now a two-horse race between EALA MP Oburu Oginga and a young diplomat James Wamban.
In an epic show of the proverbial finishing power, Wamban has lately intensified his campaigns meeting special interest groups and appealing to the youth vote.
The issue of age has been at the centre of this contest considering that Oburu, who is flying the ODM flag, is 78-years-old while Wamban is 30.
Some of the voters have in the past voiced concerns, saying Oburu should retire from politics.
On his part, Oburu has repeatedly told off his critics, saying the Senate requires old men with wisdom.
“Senate is not a football pitch that requires energetic young men. Senate requires wisdom which I as an old person have,” Oburu is fond of saying at campaign rallies.
Wamban has given examples of younger leaders in the current Senate such as Aaron Cheruiyot of Kericho and Moses Kajwang’ of Homa Bay to demystify Oburu’s idea of ‘wisdom’.
He also gave the former Illinois Senator and first American black president Barack Obama.
“Oburu and his supporters should stop misleading the voters of Siaya county. Wisdom is a gift from God and does not come with age,” Wamban told the Star on Tuesday.
He said Siaya residents require leaders of integrity to spur economic and social growth in the region.
Wamban is vying on a Movement for Democracy and Growth ticket, whose party leader is Ugenya MP David Ochieng.
He has in the past said Oburu’s candidature speaks of the push by the Jaramogi family to control politics in the region.
“Raila is going to be the fifth president of Kenya yet Oburu wants to be senator and Ruth Odinga wants to be Women Rep in Kisumu," Wamban said.
"Turphosa Osewe (Odinga's sister-in-law) wants to be an MCA in Bondo, Elijah Oburu has been holding to ministries in Siaya county and wants to be nominated to the National Assembly. It demonstrates greed on their part.”
During Raila’s tour of Siaya county on July 2, only ODM candidates were allowed into the six rallies that were held in Sega, Ugunja, Ondisore, Aram, Bondo and Awelo.
Those running on Azimio affiliate parties like Wamban, Booker Ngesa (Gem MP candidate on Communist Party of Kenya ticket) and Nicholas Gumbo (governor candidate on UDM ticket) were harassed and pelted with stones.
Raila went on to endorse ODM candidates only as his preferred foot soldier, the fact that he himself is running for president on Azimio la Umoja Coalition Party notwithstanding.
Wamban said a Raila presidency is not enough to make devolution work for Siaya people.
“Six-piece voting pattern is an outdated concept. Before they tell us to vote ODM six-piece, they should first show us what Ggvernors Cornel Rasanga and Cyprian Awiti have done in Siaya and Homa Bay for the 10 years of devolution,” he said.
Wamban, who hails from Gem subcounty, is supporting Gumbo's gubernatorial bid, and is keen on reaping the votes of Siaya people who are dissatisfied with Raila's endorsement of ODM candidates.
He said Oburu will not be able to play his oversight role effectively if James Orengo becomes governor because the two are bosom buddies.
If elected senator, he said, he will keep the governor on toes, ensuring that all corruption loopholes are sealed so that the devolved funds can go into creation of industries and jobs for young people.
His dream is to have a regional bank for Nyanza so that it provides friendlier financial support mechanisms to start-ups and small businesses.
Wamban said he is also keen on climate change adaptation and mitigation, which he said will need leaders who are responsive to the needs of the people, and not party puppets.
The senatorial candidate has a degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Nairobi and has worked at African Union's Kenya Diaspora Alliance and Economic Social and Cultural Council.
Other senate candidates include Tony Yogo, Julius Okinda and Ishmael Atudo.
Yogo and Okinda were initially angling for the ODM ticket only for a direct nomination to be handed to Oburu.
Yogo, 40, is from Asembo in Rarieda whereas Okinda, 53, is from Gem. Siaya has six subcounties: Gem, Alego Usonga, Bondo, Rarieda, Ugunja and Ugenya.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
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