Fears are mounting in former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i’s camp in Gusii as President William Ruto prepares to tour the region.
The Star has established Matiang’i’s allies are uneasy about the growing number of leaders from the region aligning themselves with the broad-based government.
The development has sparked concern the President could still win the Gusii vote bloc, especially if Matiang’i is not on the ballot.
“Those people outnumber us by far. And I can confidently tell you, if things remain as they are, our king may remain naked,” a lawmaker allied to Matiang’i’s faction admitted.
The anxiety follows a meeting at Nairobi’s Serena Hotel last week, where leaders allied to the broad-based government strategised for Ruto’s planned tour of the region.
The meeting brought together senior government officials and political leaders, both elected and nominated.
Those present included Education CS Julius Ogamba, Kisii Governor Simba Arati, Nyamira Woman Representative Jerusha Momanyi, nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri and nominated MP Irene Mayaka.
Others were South Mugirango MP Silvanus Osoro, North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko, Nyaribari Chache MP Zaheer Jhanda and Kitutu Chache North MP Japheth Nyakundi.
Also in the team were Nyaribari Masaba MP Daniel Manduku, West Mugirango MP Steve Mogaka and Bomachoge Chache MP Alpha Miruka.
Interestingly, Bonchari MP Charles Onchoke, who had largely been seen as neutral, also attended the meeting, signalling his allegiance to the President.
On the other hand, only Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni and Borabu MP Patrick Osero have remained firmly in Matiang’i’s corner.
Four other leaders have maintained their support for Matiang’i, but their loyalty has been the subject of debate because of their allegiance to Edwin Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi.
They include Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo, Bomachoge Borabu MP Obadiah Barongo and Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi.
The meeting has sparked disquiet within Matiang’i’s camp over the possibility that Ruto could make further political inroads into the region during his upcoming tours.
The realisation has complicated Matiang’i’s political calculations in a region where his supporters had expected him to enjoy overwhelming backing as he positions himself for the presidency.
“All energy, time and resources should be directed towards building the Matiang’i presidential brand,” Borabu MP aspirant Morara Kebaso said.
The development came amid reports the Kenya Kwanza brigade is attempting to reach out to Matiang’i himself to persuade him to decamp from the opposition.
However, Matiang’i has maintained that he is in the opposition to stay and has been touring the country calling for Ruto’s removal from power next year.
Kisii and Nyamira counties have a combined 960,293 registered voters, comprising 637,010 in Kisii and 323,283 in Nyamira.
This makes the region one of the most sought-after ahead of the polls.
Kebaso has criticised what he sees as divided loyalties among leaders who claim to support Matiang’i while participating in a movement whose political direction remains uncertain.
He warned political alliances would eventually demand a clear choice from leaders and their supporters.
“If you are in Linda Mwananchi and at the same time you are a Jubilee supporter, where you also have a presidential candidate, that multibet will not work. Main chick and side chick politics is adultery. Choose a side and be loyal,” he said.
However, Onyonka dismissed suggestions his involvement in Linda Mwananchi had placed him at odds with Matiang’i.
“We are mutually exclusively inclusive. We have agreed to be on separate paths in the opposition but champion the same agenda,” he said.
The senator maintained his support for Matiang’i was not incompatible with working alongside other opposition leaders united by their desire to remove Ruto from power in next year’s election.
Onyonka said he was unwilling to abandon his political identity within ODM simply because he was participating in a broader opposition initiative.
“I cannot start talking about Jubilee and I'm an ODM guy. Somebody will write a letter to my party and say the reason why I'm in Linda is that Linda split from ODM,” he said.
He insisted the opposition would eventually agree on a political vehicle to advance its shared ambitions, including a possible decision to use Jubilee if the leaders considered it the best option.
“We will sit as a team and agree which party locally is substantive and is going to carry out our dreams and visions and we will agree to work with it. We have no contradictory issues with Fred. If we agree it is Jubilee, we will run with Fred,” Onyonka said.
“If we find we need to go to another party, we will go to another. I don't see why people are uncomfortable.”
INSTANT ANALYSIS
The development presents Matiang’i with a difficult political balancing act. He must retain the loyalty of his traditional supporters while competing with Ruto’s growing influence and navigating an opposition whose leaders have yet to settle on a common political vehicle and presidential candidate. For Matiang’i, the region represents more than a home base. Strong support there could strengthen his hand in negotiations over the opposition’s presidential ticket, while visible divisions could weaken his bargaining position.
