As much as I would want to remain neutral on my preferred candidate for the Isiolo North MP seat in the forthcoming 2022 general elections, I would without fear of contradiction confidently say that Meru chances are minimal.
With former MP Joseph Samal who still commands his Turkana community and incumbent Hassan Odha in the race, having two candidates from the Ameru community will only spoil the broth and dim their hopes of acquiring an elective position if at all the community will ever.
But let’s get to the actual elephant in the house.
At a time when other communities are planning for the polls through negotiated democracy, the Ameru aspirants are busy strolling in different directions further worsening their already existing woes.
However strong Lucy Mworia and Mwenda Thuranira could feel, without unity and unity of purpose for that matter, they are destined to fall and fail.
While both leaders, who I personally believe have the capacity to lead Isiolo North, should have reached out to each other, I personally believe, the newest man in town and my brother should have taken that bold step.
Whether or not Mr Thuranira and Ms Mworia have different visions for Isiolo, their unity should and must surpass everything if they are to solidify their community’s support which is very crucial.
The duo should learn from old adage that united we stand and divided we fall.
The unity that Ameru community needs is beyond the two politicians parading before the public to look as if they are united whereas we know they are not.
In my own assessment, Ms Mworia is well placed than Mr Thuranira for the MP’s seat considering that she emerged third in the 2017 elections with 8511 votes trailing behind Mr Samal who got 11, 165 votes and incumbent MP Odha who garnered 12, 506 votes.
While she might not be having 100 percent support of the Ameru community, her command is way too above that of Mr Thuranira who has concentrated on other tribes and forgotten his own, which he should have started with.
Either of the two leaders could be offering political guidance to the community but none wants to be on the same table with the other in what one would call egoism.
Both slogans of Mambo fresh and Mama Amani are good for Isiolo people but that can only be achieved if the propellers embrace a united front.
With exactly one year to the elections, Ms Mworia and Mr Thuranira must move fast to strengthen their candidature through shelving aspirations for either of them so that all the energy is directed to one hopeful.
Any other option or failure for one of them to cede his/her ambition for the other will end in tears and extend the community’s long wait to have a single elective post.
During one of my recent field visits, I bumped into a middle-aged man who told me that only prayers could salvage the Ameru community as had ostensibly lost direction.
To him, disunity and selfish interests are the main issues bedeviling the community which is among the largest voting blocs in Isiolo.
“Just look at how many aspirants from the community have expressed interests for several positions,” he told me while we sipped a glass of milk at one of the joints in Isiolo town.
“They are just self-centered and that is why none will be ready to withdraw their ambitions for the other. That is why they are easily manipulated by other communities and mostly paid to spoil votes for aspirants from their community,” he went on.
While some may disagree, if the above issues are not expeditiously addressed, the Ameru community might wait longer to get an MP.
I would not want to dwell on the Ameru elders issue but I wonder if there is any well-structured system that could besides guiding in critical decision making, tell the Ameru residents this is the political direction to take.
Back to my MP issue, the Mworia-Mwenda differences will put Mr Samal and Mr Odha at a better edge presenting a possibility of either sealing the victory in the slated August 2022 polls.
But time will surely tell.
Waweru Wairimu- Isiolo based Nation Media Group reporter
The opinion shared above does not belong to the Press Point.
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