Elders from the minority Kuria community are mulling over breaking culture and endorsing a woman in the forthcoming Migori governor race.During the endorsement, like it was done in the past, the aspirant is often made an elder of the community a preserve which has never been bestowed on women.
Last evening, elders drawn from four Kuria clans of Bugumbe, Nyabasi, Bwirege and Bukira met with Migori Woman Representative Pamela Odhiambo in Kehancha town.
Elders received tents and chairs from the Woman Representative kitty to help them in organising their meetings.Odhiambo is the only female candidate set to battle it out for the popular Orange Democratic Movement ticket with senator Ochillo Ayacko, together with other close to ten male aspirants.
Kuria Council of Elders chairman Matiko Mahiri said she is an office holder and among serious governor aspirants in Migori county thus as elders, they held talks with her privately and had a public function together which may culminate into endorsement.
Mahiri said while the Kuria culture has been keen on endorsing only male candidates and making them elders, they will consider including women and youths in the endorsements.
Odhiambo acknowledged the calls and plans for endorsement said she was ready after being approached twice by elders and will be ready for the endorsement since my dream for being the second Migori governor is unite all communities.
She said while vying in her current position in last polls she got elder blessings from the Kuria community severally, and was ready to move with the community in her bid.If the endorsement goes through, it will clash the same elders who had already endorsed and installed Ayacko as a community elder on August at a function in at Kehancha Korosaro grounds.
He was given a Kuria name ‘Mwita’, which means a first born in the community with elders only endorsing one candidate for a seat and others only get blessings.
Ayacko’s endorsement set the ball rolling for other aspirants for governor seat including Odhiambo to try and woe the community.
Other aspirants are former Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno, former Migori MP John Dache Pesa, former Nyatike MP Edick Anyanga, businessmen Phillip Ogari Mwabe, Owiso Ngao, Migori county Secretary Christopher Rusana and Assembly speaker Boaz Okoth among others.
By Basil Okoth
