Let voters choose their governor in peace

The Saturday dawn raid on Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria’s house and those of his relatives - including his parents - raises serious questions on both elective politics and the war on corruption.

Let me state from the outset that I was born and brought up in Murang’a - that great part of Kenya which also produced such historical greats as Mugo wa Kibiru, the Gikuyu seer who predicted the coming of the colonialists and the iron snake (the railway).

I also served as a member of Parliament for Kandara, in Murang’a, for nearly two decades.

I also served in both the Kenyatta and Moi administrations as an assistant minister for Agriculture.

CLAMOUR FOR THE GOVERNORSHIP

I have, however, for all that time in politics, never witnessed the kind of vicious confrontations that have been seen, especially in the clamour for the governorship of Murang’a in next year’s elections.

The rush for the post of governor in all corners of the country after the political class realised the clout the post carries does not warrant such ugly fights.

I have never met Mr wa Iria and, while I have no problem with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) conducting raids on any suspect’s residence, the manner in which the raids were conducted raises serious questions.

First, the anti-graft officers stormed the governor’s house at 4am.

The Press and public were present, which means word had spread before the raid that it would happen.

How then, do you draw a line between curious onlookers who would be excited to witness the spectacle and the so-called “hired goons”?

It is judgemental claims such as this that fuel the suspicion that politics could be behind it all.

POLITICAL DUELS

My wish is not to suggest that EACC officials have been sucked into the political duels rocking Murang’a County ahead of the next elections.

I have, however, noticed that it is the only county where raids have been carried out twice, as bitter political fights continue.

And while the war on graft championed by President Uhuru Kenyatta needs the support of everyone, it might be hijacked to serve some narrow political ends.

If it is true that the EACC officials did not have female officers to frisk the women in Mr Wa Iria’s family, that would be quite disturbing.

If it is also true that the officers conducted the search in the manner described in the media, and did not even bother to take an inventory of what they took away from the governor and his family, then the EACC team may have lent credence to claims that the raids were a political charade to influence next year’s elections.

EACC QUESTIONS

As an independent State agency, EACC should be free to conduct raids and other operations that can help it serve its objectives.

But it must be careful not to appear to be doing its work in a manner likely to put its claim of independence into question.

Tellingly, some people are already claiming there are plans by people who purport to be close to the authorities to determine through unorthodox means who becomes Murang’a governor after next year’s General Election.

President Kenyatta and his administration would do well to warn his support base against politicising the war on graft.

If someone wants to be elected next year, my advice, as Kenneth Matiba used to say, let the people decide!

Although President Kenyatta garnered a majority of votes in the 2013 General Election, more than 36,000 people from Murang’a did not vote, even though they had attained the voting age.

Instead of the political wars we are witnessing in an electoral zone that has voted peacefully since independence, why can’t the aspirants rally this untapped potential swing vote to their advantage?

The writer is former MP for Kandara for nearly 20 years and assistant minister for Agriculture in the Moi and Kenyatta eras. [email protected]