Battle of heavyweights for governor and senator in Mt Kenya

Cabinet ministers and MPs are among those who have publicly announced their intention to vie for governor and Senate seats as early campaigns for the new electoral offices start ahead of the 2012 polls.

The seats created by the new Constitution have also attracted former ministers, former MPs as well as new entrants in politics across the country. In Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties, politicians have not only declared their intentions in large numbers but they have also started campaigning.

Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi and former Education assistant minister Adams Karauri have declared interest in the Meru Senate seat. Mr Murungi has represented Imenti South constituency since 1992. Higher Education assistant minister Kilemi Mwiria and Imenti Central legislator Gitobu Imanyara have declared their candidature for the county’s Governor. In the race too is Nelson Kaimenyi, an insurance broker.

Dr Mwiria who hails from the old Meru North district enjoys support in the Imenti region after coordinating the “Yes” campaigns in Meru together with Mr Murungi and Agriculture assistant minister Kareke Mbiuki. He has served as an MP since 1997 and said he had consulted widely before making the announcement.

In Tharaka-Nithi, political scientist Ichenga Mugao is the only one to declare publicly his intention to contest the governor’s seat. Chuka mayor John Mbaabu, and former MPs Francis Kagwima (Tharaka) and Petkey Miriti (Nithi) have said they will be running for the Senate.

Mr Mbaabu will be banking on his record at the Chuka Municipal Council which was ranked among top 10 best-run councils. Mr David Karithi and Mr Domiciano Kaburu Njeru have also expressed interest in the Senate seats in Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties respectively.

Mr Imanyara says he will base his campaigns on his record in the fight for the second liberation which he says has benefited Meru. In Kirinyaga County, those who have openly declared that they will be vying for the Senate are former State House Comptroller Matere Keriri, university lecturer Julius Gathogo and Abel Murithi, an ex-banker.

Mr Keriri sees his being a seasoned politician as putting him in good stead to represent his county in the Senate. “I’m qualified for the position having been in political leadership for decades,” he said.

Dr Gathogo, who teaches religious studies and philosophy at Kenyatta University, said he made up his mind to contest the seat after being approached by local professionals and Christians. “There was no way I would have let the people down,” he said.

After the new Constitution was proclaimed, many sitting MPs in the region are reportedly torn between seeking to retain their seats and going for more challenging positions of senator or governor. Kirinyaga Central MP John Ngata said he was weighing his options before stating whether he would contest the Senate or governor’s position.

Assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri and former Mathira MP Nderitu Gachagua have said they will go for the position of governor for Laikipia and Nyeri respectively. “I have served the people of Laikipia for three terms and they are satisfied with my performance. I would not disappoint them,” Mr Kiunjuri told the Sunday Nation.

For his part, Mr Gachagua cites among his qualifications the fact that the Mathira Constituency Development Fund (CDF) was rated as the second best managed in the country while he was the area MP between 2002 and 2007. These skills, he said, are necessary for running a county which will have a budget running into billions of shillings annually. “The governor is an implementer and I think I am best suited,” he said.

Mr Gachagua also counts among his achievements being instrumental in introducing an alternative channel for marketing of coffee. Agriculture, particularly coffee, is the mainstay of the county’s economy. Former Information minister Mutahi Kagwe said he was still consulting on which position he should go for.

“Getting a consensus is very good to ensure that no constituency will dominate the others. Every Nyeri constituency must be included in the line-up for positions coming up under the new Constitution,” said Mr Kagwe.

County think-tank

Mr Kagwe also prefers an arrangement whereby politicians and professionals meet to come up with a county think-tank to show the way. Mathira MP Ephraim Maina is also vouching for a line-up approach. A few weeks ago he hosted a group of councillors from the Nyeri County and hinted he would go for a county post.

“I am committed to nurturing the unity of Nyeri people and the position I will go for will depend on their wish. However, I strongly feel any campaign is premature and we should wait until the relevant framework is in place,” he said. In Kiambu, former MPs have begun sending feelers that they could be interested in vying for governor and senate positions.

Former Lari MP Viscount Kimathi has told public functions in Kiambaa, Githunguri and Limuru constituencies that he would be in the race for governor. Politician-cum-businessman Nginyo Kariuki is also eyeing the position through his National Alliance Party of Kenya and has started addressing rallies. This week, he held a meeting with youth leaders to buttress his campaign.

Kiambaa MP Stanley Githunguri has yet to state categorically which seat he would be going for, only indicating it is governor or senator. It is expected that in the coming days, more people will come up to declare interests in the two powerful seats in the county that is home to deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta.

Mr Kenyatta is widely believed to have a huge influence on how the people of Kiambu county and Mt Kenya region will vote being a potential presidential candidate and having run for the presidency in 2002.

Reported by Muchiri Gitonga, George Munene, Eric Wainaina and Charles Wanyoro