Leaders emerge during crises and this is a perfect opportunity for Education Minister Ezekiel Machogu to step forward and bring a truce in Nyamira and Kisii political leadership.
The bickering between elected leaders in the two Omogusii Counties is not portraying us well but as a quarrelsome community.
Coming at the time President William Ruto is assembling and setting up his government, can easily contribute to us as a community being sidelined as we are likely to focus on village and superiority wars at the expense of remaining in our rightful places on the national stage.
We can not blame the Ruto administration if we openly tell the world how un-consultative we are.
It’s a shame that while other communities are busy pulling in one direction, in persuading the President to accommodate them more in his government, ours is undermining each other, is opposite.
In the absence of Dr.Fred Matiang’i, who until a few months ago was the voice of the community, Machogu with Gusii MPs caucus chair Joash Nyamoko, MP North Mugirango, should bring to a round table Kisii Governor Simba Arati on one side and those criticizing his style of leaders led by Senator Richard Onyonka.
Onyonka who was in the same political camp as Arati in the August polls has already pulled to his side newly elected MPs Kibagendi and Japhet Nyakundi in accusing his Governor of running the county without involving other leaders.
On his part, Governor Arati who spoke in a live radio show told off the MPs and accused others of meddling in his docket urging his critics to mind their lines and leave him alone to serve his electorates.
In Nyamira, Deputy Governor James Gesami has loudly protested his exclusion from the formation of Nyaribo’s administration.
Dr. Gesami had expected to be allowed to also pick a few appointees to the county executive but to his dismay, he got non. However, Nyaribo has since told him off saying it was Gesami who failed to present his nominees with desired qualifications for appointment.
The cold relationship between Nyaribo and Gesami isn’t good enough in service delivery.
The need for all elected leaders to speak in one Voice is very necessary for divisive politics will see the community lose big.
Machogu must step forward and call the leaders to a round table meeting to iron out the differences before they escalate.
All the elected leaders should head the invitation once set out by the minister who is currently the senior public servant from the community.
The leaders should agree to meet unconditionally and iron out any contentious issues.
As voters and members of the community, we don’t expect hardliner positions on either side. Our community’s reputation is paramount and must always come first. Bury the egos and save us from being seen as a disjointed community, a situation that can be exploited to our disadvantage.
Even if President Ruto wanted to absorb some of our sons and daughters in his Government, which wing of the feuding sides will he consult?
Kisii and Nyamira Counties are among the few counties which missed out on Ruto’s appointment of Permanent Secretaries.
The Gusii leadership irrespective of their political persuasions should unite and embrace the government of the day for the benefit of Omogusii.
CS Machogu should organise urgently a meeting of Gusii leaders from all political affiliations with President William Ruto. Otherwise, the Gusii community will be in the cold for the next 5 years or so
Hon. Beauttah Omanga is the Former MCA Bogichora Ward, West Mugirango Constituency in Nyamira County
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