Patrick Nzioka
19 January 2008
Nairobi — The next political fight between the Orange Democratic Movement and the Party of National Unity will be over control of close to 200 local authorities countrywide.
Battle lines have already been drawn following the disputed presidential vote which has plunged the country into chaos. Mr Raila Odinga's ODM is expected to dominate councils in the western part of the country with PNU and its affiliate in central and eastern Kenya.
The major battle would revolve around key cities such as Kisumu, Nairobi and Mombasa.
Elections of mayors, chairpersons of county councils and heads of various committees have always turned to hot battlegrounds.
Electoral Commission
The trend is unlikely to change especially now that the country is in the middle of a political crisis, torched off after the Electoral Commission declared Mr Mwai Kibaki winner of the December 27 presidential election but admitted flaws in tallying of results.
ODM and election observers have complained of differences in some of the final results announced by commissioners and those read out at the constituencies.
Opposition supporters have been staging violent protests countrywide claiming the election was rigged in favour of Mr Kibaki.
The electoral commission is expected to gazette election of councillors soon to pave way for mayoral polls expected to take place in late February or early March.
The ministry of Local Authorities is vested with powers to call the elections.
The polls will be held against a backdrop of failure by the last Parliament to enact the minimum reforms package that proposed that mayors and chairpersons of councils be elected directly by the people, a move aimed to free local authorities from the Local Authorities Act that gives the minister and town clerks powers to lord over councillors.
ODM has indicated its wish to take up the management of the City of Nairobi by ensuring its councillors secure the mayorship as well as head key committees.
Last week, Mr Odinga met 36 councillors elected on ODM ticket in Nairobi. City businesswoman Esther Passaris of Adopt-a-Light fame is reported to have attended the strategy meeting.
Although it is too early to tell who will be fronted by which party, Ms Passaris who has had a frosty relationship with the council, is being mentioned as among those being considered by ODM to run City Hall.
Controversial deal
She has taken the council to court over the cancellation of a controversial contract on billboard advertisement and street lighting.
She had indicated she would contest the position if the law was changed to allow direct election of mayors.
With 36 councillors-elect, the party is guaranteed to nominate 12 councillors to bring its total number in the city to 48.
But parliamentary and civic elections in Kamukunji constituency were cancelled after malpractices were noted during the tallying. It is not yet clear when elections will be held.
Nairobi City Council will have 75 elected councillors after the number of wards was increased from 55. There are 25 nomination slots that will be shared among the parties represented.
Former mayor Lawrence Ngacha is said to be among people being mentioned from the PNU side for the mayoral seat. Mr Ngacha lost in the last elections after he shifted from Kamukunji's Uhuru ward to Dagoretti's Kenyatta Golf Course.
Just like Ms Passaris, his route to the council would only be through nomination.
"While I'm not saying I'm the best candidate for the seat, I will be willing to take up the challenge if called upon to do so. I believe I have what it takes to serve as the mayor of Nairobi based on my experience as a councillor at the council," Mr Ngacha said in a telephone interview.
Nairobi Town Clerk John Gakuo, who has been credited for restoring sanity in the city, says he is ready to work with whoever is elected to the seat.
But when all is said and done, ODM will have a headstart due to their numbers in the event that the party succeeds to whip them to vote for a particular candidate.
The immediate challenge for the elected mayor will be to restore the greening and beautification programme that was stopped around election time after hawkers invaded the streets.
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