Wambilinga vs Reginalda for Bungoma women county representative remains a reference battle for women seeking political leadership in Bungoma and indeed the entire Western Kenya. It had everything: a hint of a political David vs Goliath battle; reference to Bibilical Esther and Mordechai; to politics of where a woman cooks. The writer looks at the factors at play, as it were, back in 2017.
The seat for County Women Member of Parliament commonly referred to as Bungoma women county representative or simply Woman Rep has attracted thereabouts 10 candidates as at my last count. Like in the Bungoma governor race, the are two front runners. The chisenye, in this case, are incumbent Hon Dr Reginalda Nakhumicha Wanyonyi and Catherine Nanjala Wambilianga. The rest, with all due respect, are chinywinywi.
Ford Kenya (NASA) vs Jubilee: First, let’s be done with party politics, trust me it only get’s better
Hon Reginalda is defending her seat on Jubilee party and her main challenger is Catherine Wambilinga a Ford Kenya candidate. Make no mistake, Bungoma county is a Ford Kenya country.
First, it’s Weta, Hon Moses Wetangula, the NASA principal’s backyard.
Secondly, Ford Kenya (FK) has been Omubukusu’s liberation vehicle from our days in opposition and political oblivion.
From Masinde Muliro Wa’Makinia to Kijana Wamalwa, FK has been the vehicle of our aspirations. In fact Vice President Michael Kijana Wamalwa was buried with the FK flag in a manner similar to a patriot being buried with their country’s flag. This symbolism serves as an apt reminder of the Kutalan’gi party‘s centrality in our hopes as a people.
Alongside PanPaper, Nzoia Sugar Complex, the late Cardinal Otunga, the Bukusu resistance and such like luminous company, Ford Kenya is something that the Bukusu people of Mulembe take pride in. That said, the Jubilee Party assault comes with the advantage of incumbency, something that observers of African politics know too well of. Then there the weight of the battalion Jubilee has assembled: Governor Ken Lusaka, first timer Didmus Barasa, Women Rep Reginalda Nakumicha and others are no real sibia, real metal. No political pushovers.
Meet the incumbent: Reginalda Nakhumicha from Lurende Village, Kabuchai constituency atekha Kimilili
Dr Reginalda Nakhumicha then, was in her late 50s or early 60s. She must have been born early in the year given that Nakhumicha is the name given to Bukusu girls born during the planting season. She is of average height. African woman in all stereotypes. Comfortable in her skin not lost in the charade of weight loss flavored teas and unsightly sweat pants gym selfies.
In fact, she cuts the a figure of mayi (Lubukusu for mother). A big fan of flowing Vitenges and other simple motherly outfits that my and your mother don, Nakhumicha’s a mother of five. Which is quite unlike her peers, our mothers, who popped nine without a word.
Who is Dr. Reginalda Nakhumicha?
Nakhumicha hails from Lurende village of Kabuchai constituency and got married to Wanyonyi from Kimilili. If you are unfamiliar with Bungoma county, kindly note these details somewhere. We’ll reveal why where she was born and is married is important in the race for Bungoma women county representative.
First off is marital status. The Bukusu are particular on who they bequeath power. They give power to married people only. Single mothers are stigmatized. On the campaign trail, the Bukusu voter will keep asking women aspirants: “Ewe otekha wae ?” (Lubuksu, literal “Where do you cook?”)
But these questions are obusuma and mrere to Reginalda. A destroyer of glass ceilings, Nakhumicha is an academician per excellence. She holds a PhD in environmental sciences and was a senior lecturer in Moi University before plunging in politics.
She cut her teeth in politics vying for Kimilili MP seat during the Hon. Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi era. Anyone who has faced Hon. Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi will attest to why he calls himself Owakifumbusia meaning, the hunting dog who teases out prey from the bush. A powerful orator, Reginalda must have had her political acumen sharpened in her battles with Dr Mukhisa. As they say, iron sharpens iron.
Given such a journey to the Bungoma women county representative incumbency, little wonder then that Reginalda comes to us as the woman among the men. Not really Martha Karua’s “the only man” in the PNU Cabinet, but her slogan “Nasio we` county” draws inspiration from this.
Let us break this slogan down for you.
Nasio we’ county
A slogan equates to the tagline of a brand. The most famous of taglines, Nike’s “Just do it now” grew the brand from just $877 million in 1988 to $9.6B in 1998. Similarly, in politics, a slogan is the call to action. To act towards a certain invariably higher (perceived or true) calling. It’s the battle cry that calls the troops to order and into formation. It’s akin to the chorus of a song that helps imprint a tune into hearts.
In Bukusu culture, nasio is the name given to a, often tom boy, girl born among boys. A nasio, through nurture, often comes to bears alpha male personna. Thus nasio are typically very aggressive. However, under the hood, when pushed hard enough, nasio are akin to a softly boiled egg – the soft yolk occupying their core flows out under pressure.
Given the natural protective instincts of the male species, the male kinsmen to a nasio are likely to pamper her even as they knock her about. Am no psychologist neither do I intend to be frown upon ethical constructs of the trade, but in our world, it is said that a nasio, will crave for this protection.
Our nasio we` county is no different. Politics is no church, but Reginalda can be very emotional. Twice, I have witnessed her fail to hold her emotions when she took to the mic. She wept in a Sulwe FM interview, at a Misikhu church; once, she left the mic after delivering a speech lasting less than 2 minutes. Credit to her though, she’s got better with this over time.
Reginald handicapped? The 2017 Bungoma women county representative race, Esther, Mordecai & Bukusu constructs of women leaders
Being of similar political persuasion, nasio we` county is in a very comfortable place with Governor Lusaka. This political comradery places her in a vantage position to address the county’s not so secret shame. I’m talking of chisoni cha (Lubukusu, literal shame of) the rampant teenage pregnancies in Mt Elgon. That said, Bungoma people haven’t felt her weight in this. Personally, I am not aware of any interventions in her kitty to curb this destroyer of young lives.
Why is this important? Well that’s what we thought county women MPs should do
Beyond that, my people’s constructs of a woman in leadership are that of a bridge, peacemaker if you like. As she enjoyed the warmth of leadership, we expected mayi Reginalda to have done more regarding the open tiff between the good Senator of Bungoma Wetang’ula and Governor Lusaka.
We imagine that she should have been more like Queen Esther of the Persian King Ahasuerus during the time of Achmaemenid Empire. Queen Esther single handedly averted the King’s assassination, saved her people from genocide and made one of her kinsmen, Mordecai, Chief Minister. (Reminder: on that same note book we had asked you to note some details on Reginalda, kindly note the word ‘kinsman’ too. We promise to join these dots for you. For now, it can’t be lost on you that Weta’s quest for presidency could have gained insurmountable traction had Governor Lusaka, and pockets of resistance to Weta’s leadership in Bungoma, been pacified through honest negotiation. As a result, the senator has turned his guns on the governor and the threat to the king (Governor KLM) as it was for Ahasuerus is real.)
Incumbency: As the first Bungoma women county representative Reginalda sets the pace, but will it be enough?
Whichever way 8/8/2017 goes, Reginalda will forever be remembered for establishing BUCOWO. A savings and credit cooperative society for women to borrow loans and repay back with low interest rates. This is a noble venture that requires future Bungoma Women Reps to nurture it to ubiquity by deepening its percolation at the bottom of the pyramid.
Normal teething problems with the National Government Affirmative action Fund notwithstanding, Nakhumicha has also done well in the education sector. I have come across more than 10 projects in one sub-county bearing her name. These range from class rooms, dormitories, laboratories, dinning halls etc.
This should hold her in good stead as she prepares to face her main challenger Catherine Wambilinga.
Meet the challenger: Catherine Nanjala Wambilinga from Sichei Village, Kubuchai constituency atekha Webuye
Catherine Nanjala Wambilianga is a secondary school teacher, mother, renown unionist and wife. Among the feathers in her cap is her incumbency as KUPPET gender secretary. Catherine has also served as a commissioner in the National Council for Nomadic education.
This will be her second stab for Bungoma women county representative on a Ford Kenya ticket. She must have been born somewhere between April and August. I propose this purely based on my knowledge of Bukusu naming traditions which have girls born during the famine season named Nanjala.
She hails from Sichei area in Kabuchai constituency and is married in Webuye. In her late 40s or early 50s. Slim. Trim. A flamboyant dresser. She has these flowing maxi dresses that hug her where it matters. Just enough to keep one curious. Always on is her Orie Rogo Manduli-esque West African head gear.
Despite her notable professional achievements, not much has been documented about her public life. There are two reasons behind this. First, it appears that she has chosen to be a hunter-in-the-dark. Smart for her as this phenomenon is one which challengers almost always benefit from.
Figuratively, as Reginalda hogs the dance floor engrossed in an unsightly zigzag dance, oblivious that she’s too drunk to achieve the seductive outcomes she yearns for; Catherine steals suggestive glances at Reginalda’s now visibly embarrassed suitor. On the pounce she waits.
The second reason why she is so undercover for a politician may lie in her personality. The public persona of Catherine is one who effortlessly keeps things under wraps. Cool. Calm. Witty. Friendly. Approachable. She has this infectious from the belly laugh. But let not this decive you. The salt in her soup lies elsewhere. A lion temperament captured in her choice of slogan: “Omukoko we Sinani” (Lubukusu, literal tenacious woman).
Omukoko we Sinani
Catherine is a fighter. She is in the race despite her loss in 2013. To get the Ford Kenya ticket she had to battle candidates rumored to be close to party hierarchy. Kenyan politics is expensive. Loyalties shift quickly and relevance has the elusiveness of enduyu (Lubukusu, wild hare).
Worse it is for women in Bukusu land who have to challenge patrilineal customs to even start dreaming of political power. Despite of all these, vanquish them she did. In her campaign rallies she calls out FORD KENYA!!!!! and the crows responds:
Simba, Simba
Simba Ekhasi ( The Lioness)
When you hear it, when you watch her work the crowd, the hair on the back of your neck stands on its end. But still for a community that never has elected a woman to significant political office, the question “will this be enough” begs. Because even if the constitution has the women rep seat an exclusive affirmative action elective seat, it never is straight forward in Bungoma.
Where it gets ugly: Clan and feudal politics of Bungoma
Bungoma County has twelve constituencies. Three on the lower side (further down the slopes of Mt Elgon) home to the be` wa’Sudi: Bumula, Sirisia and Kanduyi. Three constituencies is in the belly: Kabuchai, Webuye East and Webuye West which houses both the be` wa’Sudi and be` wa’Amutalla. And three constituencies on the upper side Tongaren, Kimilili and Mt Elgon; home to the Wa’Amutalla.
As expected, when the county cake is shared, regionalism comes into play. It is wasteful and chaotic when negotiated democracy is not given a chance. I say this looking at a county like Isiolo which has eight governor aspirants. But as I look yonder, my left eye refuses to leave my home county Bungoma. The agitation from each of the three Bungoma county political clusters to have county leaders come from ‘home’ troubles Bungoma politics.
Historical political debts
Then there is the issue of historical imbalances. I’ll have to revise my history as to why, but the perception in 21st century Bungoma is that the Wa’Amutalla benefited more from the colonialists and the independent nationstate Kenya. As a result of these privilledge, the Wa’Amutalla are perceived to be more educated. So much so that the ‘real Bukusus, Wa’Sudi tease them for their Swahili-nised lubukusu.
For example the Wa’Amutalla will call beans kamarakwe while their counter parts in the lower region will say kamakanda. Back to politics, in 2013 the elected officials were as follows: Governor was from Tongaren constituency (Wa’Amutalla), Senator from Kabuchai constituency (Belly) and Bungoma women county representative from Kimilili (Wa’Amutalla). As a consequence, the lower region has felt sidelined and have been waiting for their turn this time. To understand why the Wa’Sudi feel forgotten, please open the pages of that notebook with notes that we had asked you to keep.
The factor of deferred dreams of Wa’Sudi in the 2017 Bungoma woman representative race
You see, Kabuchai constituency is Bungoma`s answer to that fabled village in Muranga whose sons and daughters run the show. That one where Equity bank C.E.O and chair to the board, James Mwangi. hails from. Yes, that one.
Kubuchai constituency is home to Senate Minority leader, Ford Kenya party leader Hon. Wetang’ula. It is also home to his key challenger Juma Mukhwana of Jubilee Party. Current Bungoma county women representative Hon. Reginalda Nakhumicha Wanyonyi is neighbors (literally) with Watangula, and her challenger Catherine Wambillianga. KLM’s main challenger Wycliffe Wangamati, the aspiring Governor on Ford Kenya party also hails from Khachonge area of Kabuchai constituency. All within a stone’s throw.
Catherine Wambilianga and Wycliffe Wangamati share a chief and mukasa. Aspiring Senator Juma Mukhwana, Women Rep Reginalda Nakhumicha Wanyonyi and NASA doyen Hon. Wetangula can comfortably borrow salt from each other if they ran out of the commodity in the middle of the night. Their homes are less than 10 minutes drive apart. Given that the deputy governor’s position is literally reserved for the Sabot from Mt. Elgon, and that Bungoma’s next governor is likely to be Wycliffe Wangamati or Ken Lusaka Makelo the arithmetic of regional representation is some calculus.
The stage is set, let the games begin
Given where the two challengers for the Bungoma Woman represented cook, none of them can claim an advantage when it comes to courting Wa’ Sudi. If anything they both have to rely on weaker clan and familial links to get anything. This is because among the Bukusu, clans still do carry a lot of sway in community decisions of this type. Maybe the brand of their political parties and national politics will hold sway. Still, questions abound:
- Who among the Bungoma women county representative aspirants front runners has enough within them to prevail upon the Wa’Sudi for their votes ?
- Will there be a protest vote from the Wa’Sudi that will see the underdog Bungoma women county representative aspirants, the likes of Antonnina Muyoka (lawyer), Beatrice Kituyi (former PS), Hellen Nafula, Jackeline Nasimiyu (businessperson), Sween Nyongesa, Hellen Wavomba, Nancy Kibabaa (nominated MCA), Consolata Wakwabubi (former Bungoma county gender chief officer) Maria Nato, Anna Nandako, prevail ?
- Has any of the chinyinywi the strategic nous to take advantage of this regional imbalance?
- Does any of the chiunwa, ANC governor aspirant Stephen Mutoro and ODM governor aspirant Alfred Khangati have the mobilization skills to mobilize the Wa’Sudi and other communities in cosmopolitan Bungoma county to upset the Wa’ Amutalla dominance fronted by KLM (Kenneth Lusaka Makelo) and WWW (Wycliffe Wafula Wangamati)?
- Or will a Enjofu fall given that Senator Moses Wetangula is facing a challengers within NASA in the shape of former journalists David Makali of ANC (Bungoma Town) and ODM’s Bonny Wayne Nyongesa (Bukembe village of Kanduyi constituency) ?
Update 26/5/2021
Catherine Wambilianga emerged victorious following a hard battle with Dr Reginalda. She leveraged on a simple strategy of high visibility achieved through few but strategically placed and visible mini banners scattered throughout the great Bungoma. This and hanging for dear life on the coattails of the well oiled, well run campaign of Governor Wangamati swept her to victory. In the end, the other candidates proved to be donkeys in a race of thoroughbreds. As 2022 beckons, the complexity of factors faced by Wambilianga and Reginalda in 2017 simmer along as new fault lines emerge. Women aspiring for political leadership in Bungoma ought learn from this battle royal even as they prepare to surmount new political hurdles that lay in wait.
Disclosure: The writer is not a voter in Bungoma county, neither was the writer incentivized to write this post in any way by the candidates for Bungoma County Women Representative or their associates. None of the campaigns for the candidates were contacted for material, information or comment. This article is the crystallization of random, at times one liner talk, over the past 12 months with the Boda Boda guy during the ride from point A to B; conversations with Nafula and Barasa at the archetypal Rhoda’s of the late Whispers type; that kind of thing.