Former Migori senator Macke quits elective politics

Former Migori senator and now Kenya's High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Wilfred Machage, retired from elective politics.

Dr. Machage told the Sunday Nation that he has served the country long enough as a politician and will now concentrate on his new duties as a diplomat

"I have retired from elective politics I have served my people long enough and I think it is time to "Machae," said Dr. Machage,

Dr. Machage, a native of Kehancha in Kuria West, Migori County, was serving in the heart of the region for politics for decades. Mwai Kibaki's government.

In 2013, Dr. Machage was a beneficiary of the negotiated democracy between the Kuria and Luo communities in Migori, which saw him elected to the first senator of the county

] In the agreement that was brok by ODM party leader Raila Odinga, the Kuria were in charge of the senator and woman representative seats Luo took the gubernatorial seat.

The Kuria were then to support Mr. Odinga's presidential bid.

Mr Machage said he would watch the senatorial by-election from a distance following the death of Ben Oluoch Okello, who succumbed to throat cancer in June.

"It is quite unfortunate we lost my successor. But for the race, let other people serve. I will watch from a distance, "he said.

Dr. Machage, the senior senior politician from Kuria, decamped from the Democratic Party and successfully ran for the position of an ODM party ticket.

Ms Dennitah Ghati, from Kuria East, was elected Woman Representative also on an ODM ticket while Nelson Mahanga Mwita became the deputy governor.

However, the Luo felt betrayed after the Kuria vote overwhelmingly for President Uhuru Kenyatta, the then presidential candidate for Jubilee party.

As a result, deep-seated mistrust in between the two communities.

Following the perceived betrayal by the Kuria, the Luo in the community of the other world of negotiated democracy in 2017.

Sensing the mistrust between the two would have been adversely affected his chances of retaining the senatorial seat, Mr Machaïk moved from the senatorial race and vied for Kuria West MP seat.

He was however floored by Mr Mathias Nyambabe Robi, who ran on a Jubilee ticket.

All the county elective seats in the 2017 elections were taken by the Luo.

The race has attracted several aspirants including forming Cabinet ministers Ochillo Ayacko and Dalmas Otieno, train MPs John Pesa (Migori), Ochieng Mbeo (Mathare) and Edick Anyanga (Nyatike), and trade unionist Kennedy Makasembo.

On Friday, ODM, the most popular party in the county, nominated Mr. Ayacko as its candidate.

The by-election is slated for October 8.

Machage's m (19659004) Kisii Senator Sam Ongeri for the Trial of a Member of the House of Representatives of the United Nations (19659004) Former Matuga MP Chirau Mwakwere also left his job as Kenya's High Commissioner to Tanzania to the Kwale governorship seat, which he failed.

He had also served as Kenya's ambassador before he became MP and later as Foreign Minister.

Former Marsabit Governor Ukur Yattani also served as ambassador in his previous job