A number of parliamentary aspirants seats in three constituencies; Webuye East, Webuye West and Tongaren have been cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to vie for August polls with each having a dream of winning the race that seems to be highly contested given the number of contestants vying for the seat that will be declared vacant soon.
Addressing the media, Tongaren MP Dr. Eseli Simiyu who has been a legislature for three consecutive terms has a lot of hope that he will be re-elected for the third time given the development track record he has for the last fourteen years he has been in power.
After getting his clearance from IEBC at Mukuyuni offices he said he is ready for the campaign and believes he still has what it takes for Tongaren people to elect him.
“We have initiated a lot of projects within the Constituency, I have built schools, we began other new ones to ease congestion and also reduce long distance for some pupils and we did this from scratch and I have also began a Technical Training Institute at Ndalu, in Ndalu- Tabani ward, began a Technical in Milima ward, helped in getting a sugar miller in Naitiri- Kabuyefwe ward, a maize mill in Tongaren ward and development cuts across all the four wards,” said Dr. Eseli.
Dr. Eseli who will be flying DAP-K ticket however, has faulted a certain politician in Tongaren Constituency who always has a habit of destroying his posters and warned him that this time he will be vigilant and appealed to all aspirants to preach peace adding that after the General Elections life will have to go on.
Tongaren Constituency has attracted several aspirants; among them Isaac Wabuge of ODM who says Tongaren constituency needs change and young generation with new ideas to take charge and has appealed to electorates to give him an opportunity to lead them.
Geoffrey Matumbai of Independent is praised by youths as being philanthropic and he has made inroads in the Constituency with a promise of bringing proper development.
John Murumba Chikati of Ford Kenya will be trying his second lack to unseat Dr. Eseli and is banking on the support of loyalists of the party because the Constituency is known of voting Ford Kenya candidate from MCA seat aprt from Mbakalo and Ndalu- Tabani which has been elusive for long. He feels he has wide knowledge to transform the Constituency.
Stephen Mutoro who is a medic is also set with promise of providing the best in terms of health for the Constituency especially from his wide knowledge in health.
Another contestant is Sebastian Kikuyu Mukuzi of UDA who has been traversing the whole constituency to sell his agenda, positioning himself as a young man who is ready to stir development saying the Constituency has lagged behind for long and needs young and sober person which he says is capable of doing that.
However, the constituency has not attracted any female aspirant.
In Webuye East Constituency, all the seven candidates have been cleared up and there could be a tough contest and whoever will win should really work hard.
Among the candidates to succeed Hon. Alfred Wekesa Sambu is the current Ndivisi ward MCA Martin Pepela Wanyonyi who says he is young and ready for the task adding that he has an experience of ten years, tested and proven.
Job Chelongo is another candidate from Ndivisi ward, he is immediate former Bungoma County Deputy County Chief of Staff, and he will be trying his lack for the third time and says he has learned a lot and he is now ripe with enough experience to succeed Hon. Sambu and his priority will be education. He will be vying on a UDP party ticket.
Dr. Iyaya Wanjala will be flying DAP-K ticket and he enjoys massive support from the party organ and he has all the best plans for the people of Webuye East and given an opportunity he will make sure that he fights corruption and distribute CDF funds well with fair bursary across the Constituency and any Webuye East resident will have equal services regardless of the tribe.
KNUT Bungoma East Executive Secretary Aggrey Murumba Namisi has been cleared to contest on ODM party and comes from Maraka ward and given he is the only one from the ward he plans to get hold of the ward and get the highest number with promise of reviving the education system.
UDA’s candidate will be a shrewd business man Aineah Muyundo who is famously known as Breakpoint because of his business and says he is the better option because he has been working with each one especially from the needy family and with Bottom Up Economic model of the party the residents should expect much if he is given an opportunity to serve as the second MP.
.Noah Chiuli after protesting on how ODM nominations were conducted he decided to go the Independent way and being young with the Constituency networks he plans to give other contestants sleepless nights and he says has a great dream for the Constituency and he is the best option and comes with clean hands.
Lastly the contest has attracted the only female aspirant Caro Buyela famously known as Omukoko Silundu of Jubilee party who has promised a serious campaign and ready to beat the six men come 9th August.
She says she has done a lot for the community and her record speaks for itself and she doesn’t fear men but appealed for peaceful campaign that will provide an equal ground for all contestants.
“Some people are coming up with propaganda that a woman cannot be elected but watch the space am going to be the first elected woman and will offer free primary lunch in all primary schools and also for easier services I will employ ward reps that make sure wananchi get information and services better,” said Caro.
In Webuye West the contest has attracted more than ten candidates who are yet to be cleared all but among those cleared are John Wasike of ODM who is a former Chief Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture in Bungoma County government who boasts for doing well in the ministry.
The race too has attracted one female candidate on Jubilee ticket, Rachel Khisa who says the Azimio La Umoja Presidential candidate Raila Odinga set the pace for women empowerment by nominating their fellow woman Hon. Martha Karua and therefore Webuye West constituency should also follow suit and elect her as the first woman MP in Bungoma.
She says regardless of challenges women candidates are going through she is ready to battle it out with more than ten men asking for equal ground for all.
She plans to fight gender violence which she says is on the rise and also empower the community adding that the gap between the haves and have not is quite alarming.
Peter Juma Sitati of Ford Kenya, Kelly Walubengo of UDP, Missionary Edward Kimagwa are among those cleared by IEBC to unseat Hon. Dan Wanyama who will be seeking his re-election on a UDA ticket.
The Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka appealed to all politicians in the whole country to maintain peace and harmony and equally watch what they say so that the country can remain peaceful after the August polls.
Webuye East Constituency IEBC Co-ordinator Mr. Emmanuel Onyango has called on all candidates to exercise sobriety and peaceful campaigns and that whoever will go against laid down and agreed laws will be deregistered and will not vie for the seat.