By Billy Mijungu
After a weekend of vitriolic talks by two senior Migori politicians, including leaders who have consistently issued threats against colleagues associated with Linda Mwananchi while dressed in official church regalia, Hon. Peter Masara has definitively paved the way for Linda Mwananchi to say their piece and proceed with their political programme.
Masara has displayed a high level of political maturity in the wake of the brazen violence meted out against the people of South Nyanza. He has consistently called for calm, unity, tolerance and peaceful political engagement at a time when political rhetoric has become increasingly confrontational.
His record in Suna West also deserves recognition. During his nine years as an elected Member of Parliament, Masara has focused considerable attention on education, youth empowerment, community development and the creation of opportunities for ordinary residents.
It is particularly notable that during his tenure, the number of public schools in Suna West has more than tripled, with significant attention given to both primary and secondary education. His focus has now extended to tertiary education, with efforts aimed at ensuring that young people who complete secondary school have opportunities to pursue further training and education.
This investment in education has had a wider social impact. More children have gained access to schools, more parents have become actively involved in the education of their children, and more young people have been encouraged to pursue productive activities instead of being drawn into the violent gangs that have troubled parts of Suna West for years.
Masara’s approach has been to confront the causes of violence by creating opportunities. Through support for education, youth empowerment, business initiatives and community development, he has sought to give young people alternatives to idleness and political violence.
His record also includes supporting the construction and improvement of educational facilities, facilitating opportunities for students through education support programmes, empowering local businesses and supporting community initiatives. These interventions have strengthened the foundation for long-term development in a constituency that has historically faced significant social and economic challenges.
Of all the leaders who spoke this weekend in Migori, Peter Francis Masara stood out as the leader who demonstrated the temperament and disposition expected of someone seeking to become Governor. His call for calm, unity and tolerance was particularly important in the wake of unnecessary threats directed at members and supporters of the James Orengo brigade.
Leadership is not simply about the ability to mobilise crowds or command political loyalty. It is also about knowing when to lower the political temperature, protect communities from unnecessary conflict and create space for competing political voices to be heard. On this occasion, Masara demonstrated precisely that quality.
Linda Mwananchi has announced plans for an extensive tour of Homa Bay and Migori Counties and intends to turn the region pure sky blue. That prospect is bound to concern a particular group of political actors. Yet, amid the heated political exchanges, one leader stood out by choosing maturity over confrontation.
Peter Masara’s political journey is itself significant. He has served as a councillor, a mayor, an independent Member of Parliament and later as an elected Member of Parliament on an ODM ticket. That journey demonstrates political resilience, adaptability and an ability to connect with voters across different political circumstances.
His experience in local government also gives him an understanding of public administration from the grassroots, while his years in Parliament have exposed him to national policy, legislation and constituency development. That combination provides him with a broad foundation as he positions himself for a larger leadership role.
More importantly, Masara’s record suggests a leader who understands that development must be measured not only by political rhetoric but by tangible improvements in the lives of citizens. Schools, youth opportunities, business support and community infrastructure create lasting value long after political campaigns have ended.
Suna West’s transformation in the education sector is therefore one of the strongest arguments for taking Masara’s gubernatorial ambitions seriously. A constituency that has seen substantial expansion of educational opportunities under his leadership provides a useful indication of what a development-focused administration could look like at a larger scale.
His next challenge is to translate this record into a broader countywide vision for Migori, one that brings together education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, youth employment, enterprise development and peaceful political coexistence.
A Governor must be a unifier. Migori needs a leader who can bring together communities, political formations and generations without resorting to threats or intimidation. The calm posture demonstrated by Masara this weekend may therefore be more consequential than it appears.
In the fullness of time, politicians must accept accountability, tolerance and the right of others to participate freely in the democratic process. The political season has only just started, and there are still 11 long months to go.
For Peter Masara, the road ahead is increasingly clear. His record in Suna West, his political experience and his call for peaceful engagement place him firmly among the leaders worth watching as Migori prepares for the next chapter.
