By Luanda Magere C A
One of the standing legacies of devolution has to be the rise of clannism and clan dynamics at County level. In some cases, it is even more vicious than tribalism at national level.
Take my Kisumu County, for example. My clan, Kano, is the largest (it is also the largest in Luoland). It sits on three and a half constituencies. Nyando (the Kano Headquarters), Muhoroni, Kisumu East and half of Kisumu Central. The County has seven constituencies, which means that in a non-scientific polling, Kano starts any county race at nearly 50%.
In the clan dynamics, anyone running for a county seat has to make a deal with the Kano people. This is where things get spicy. The other clans are Nyakach, Kisumo and Seme (in order of size). Kajulu are sometimes referred to as a clan but are in fact pedigree Kano descendants. The rest of residents are Jodak, settlers mostly from Alego, Sakwa, Karachuonyo and Gem (mostly found in Muhoroni and lower Nyakach areas).
Now, Kano currently hold the office of Governor, as they should in any democracy. Many Kano people feel the seat was almost stolen and given to one Ruth Odinga, a despicable character if ever there was one, with whom we have been forced to work for five difficult years, a mistake we have no intention of repeating. Kano also feel we need five more years to finish projects before the next claimant takes over (who will need Kano votes to win it in the first place!).
But no. The next claimant wants it now. Reminds me of Cheryl Blair complaining that while her husband was PM, Gordon Brown, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, wouldn’t stop impatiently “waving the keys” to Number 10 Downing Street at her husband, reminding Tony that it was his turn! Prof Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, son of Seme, deeply respected in every inch of Luoland as a scholar and party ideologue when he was SG, but utterly lousy as a politician, waves the key to Prosperity House at Gov Jack Ranguma! But because he needs Kano to become Governor, Nyong’o goes and offers one Fred Outa the seat of Senator in his proposed team.
Now, Outa comes from the Kobura sub clan, just like Ranguma. But more importantly, Outa is the most hated leader from Kano since World War II. If elections are held today, Outa wouldn’t even win the post of Official Madman of Ahero Market. If not for the bungled ODM nominations, Outa was on course for a thorough beating from Jared Okelo, who, incidentally, is from the Kamanga subclan, who are settlers from Karachuonyo. Now Nyong’o is basically telling Jo Kano “Give up the Governor and I will give you Senator through your hated son”.
The Kano response; We will give Nyakach Senator, Kisumo Deputy Governor and Seme Women Rep.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that Jack Ranguma will be Kisumu Governor again. Nothing can stop the Nyando River once it bursts its banks.
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