By Anderson Ojwang
The United Opposition has moved to secure 960,262 Gusii community votes from the clutches of President William Ruto and his partner, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
In the 2022 presidential election in Kisii County, Azimio La Umoja presidential candidate, the late Raila Odinga, received 65.15 percent of the votes cast, accounting for 264,988 votes, while Ruto got 38.22 percent, accounting for 135,140 votes. The total registered voters as of 2022 were 637,010.
In Nyamira County, Raila received 61.20 percent of the votes cast, accounting for 104,477 votes, against 37.20 percent, which translated to 63,645 votes. The total registered voters were 323,283.
The installation of former Internal Security Cabinet Secretary and Deputy Leader of the Jubilee Party, Dr. Fred Matiang’i, as the community spokesperson has overhauled the community’s political terrain.
The move is similar to 2002, when the late former Cabinet Minister Simeon Nyachae founded Ford-P as his political vehicle to contest the presidency.
Nyachae’s Ford-P won most of the elective seats in the Gusii community and the majority of the presidential votes. But after Nyachae retired from politics, the late Raila Amolo Odinga and his party, ODM, became dominant in the area.
Raila and his party, ODM, have been dominant in successive elections from 2007 to 2022, where he received most of the presidential votes.
ODM has been the party of the Gusii community, with the majority of elected governors, MCAs, MPs, senators, and the Woman Representative elected on its ticket.
Currently, Kisii Governor Simba Arati is the ODM Deputy Party Leader and is aligned with the Linda Ground faction of party leader Dr. Oburu Oginga, which has expressed intent to begin pre-election coalition negotiations with President Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
This move has split ODM, with the Linda Mwananchi faction—associated with Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Siaya Governor James Orengo, and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino—opposed to the talks.
The Monday installation of Matiang’i as community elder and spokesperson changed the political equation in the region and is likely to confine President William Ruto and ODM to the periphery.
Matiang’i, who has declared his presidential interest on a United Opposition ticket, thanked the elders and the community for making him their leader.
“The elders and people, I want to thank you for the honor and the traditional rites you have conducted. You have handed me instruments of power. I want to commit here that I will not let you down.
I will respectfully represent you and will work with you. I will consult the elders and the council of elders on weighty issues affecting the community and the country.
You will advise me on the course of action, and I will not go against your advice,” he said.
DCP Party Leader Rigathi Gachagua said the installation and making of Matiang’i as the community spokesperson has locked the community votes to the Opposition and will be an impetus to their winning the 2027 presidential elections.
“We have been invited here by our brother for an important ceremony for the Abagusii community. The elders, led by Mzee Matundari, Dr. Sam Ongeri, and Dr. Chris Obure, among others, were in attendance at Ekerenyo,” he said.
Gachagua said the making of Matiang’i as the community spokesperson was the best move and an added advantage to the United Opposition.
“This was a very important move to make Matiang’i the sole spokesperson of the Abagusii community. I am disappointed that during this important community ceremony, some people were hell-bent on causing chaos,” he said.
He said going forward, the community should shun and reject “fake” political spokespersons who have nothing to show for the community’s growth.
“I am happy you maintained peace to ensure the ceremony went uninterrupted,” he said.
He said Matiang’i would be able to negotiate for the community’s share of the national cake after he was handed the mantle.
DAP leader Eugene Wamalwa said the United Opposition has embarked on locking its vote bloc from President Ruto in order to win next year’s presidential election.
“Today, we have locked the Gusii community votes from President Ruto. Rigathi has locked the Mt. Kenya vote bloc, while Kalonzo has locked Ukambani. We are also locking the Luhya vote bloc, and we will make President Ruto irrelevant in the 2027 general election,” he said.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka said the United Opposition will easily win the 2027 presidential election.
“President Ruto recently claimed he will defeat us by more than 2 million votes. But you can see from Narok to here in Kisii, the mood is one term. Where will Ruto get the votes to win?” he said.
He said the Opposition will remain united and that none of them will bolt out of the coalition.
“The train has left. You are either with us or not with us. The team is riding to victory. We have what it takes to win the presidential race,” he said.
President Ruto is banking on Arati and UDA MPs from the region to lead his vote hunt in the community, and with the making of Matiang’i as the community spokesperson, the battle will be interesting and intriguing.
