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Crowded race as nine aspirants seek to succeed Mwangi Wa Iria

 

The race to succeed Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria has gathered steam, with at least nine aspirants declaring interest  18  months to the 2022 General Election.

In what is promising to be a heated contest, the seat has attracted seasoned politicians, former and current top government officials and business tycoons.

Wa Iria is set to leave office in 2022 after serving two terms as provided in the Constitution.

The governor has declared interest in the presidency through the Usawa Kwa Wote party.

Transport CS James Macharia, Senator Irungu Kang’ata, Woman Representative Sabina Chege, former Senator and Kemsa Board chairman Kembi Gitura and former Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau are among the heavy weights in the race.

Others are Water PS Irungu Wairagu, former Transport PS Irungu Nyakera, Equatorial Nut CEO Moses Mwangi and engineer Henry Gaate.

Political analyst Peter Kagwanja who hails from the county observed that a number of factors – individuals development record, closeness to the people and Kenyatta succession politics – will determine the next governor. 

“The fluidity of Mt Kenya politics will not tell you who the front runner for the seat is until we conclude the Kenyatta succession politics,” Kagwanja, who is also seeking the Senate seat, said.

Murang’a politics is being controlled by two blocs: Murang’a North, where Wa Iria, Chege and Kang'ata come and Murang'a South  from where Mwangi and Kamau hail.

Mt Kenya MCAs caucus chairman Charles Ng’ang’a said the politics of Kieleweke and Tangatanga will also determine the next governor.

“In Murang’a, the battle for a governor will be between the North and South as well as Tangatanga verses Kieleweke,” Ng'ang'a said.

Wa Iria has said he has no favourite candidate and that all candidates are free to campaign without antagonising his relationship with MCAs.

Last week, the governor said some candidates are known to incite MCAs against incumbent, which he said will not be condoned.

JAMES MACHARIA

Macharia, a dependable CS in President Uhuru Kenyatta's Cabinet, heads one of the biggest and influential ministries and has gained popularity on the ground due to the mega infrastructural projects in the country.

Macharia, however, did not confirm or deny his interest in the seat, only saying he is focusing on public service and delivery on his mandate.

"We are so much embedded in public service right now. We are so much committed to completing the programmes that we have and we are not ready to say whether we shall join the race or not," he told the Star on the phone.

"When the right time comes, we shall make appropriate announcements."

SENATOR IRUNGU KANG'ATA

The embattled Senate Majority Chief Whip who rattled the Jubilee Party with his radical letter to Uhuru on BBI has been touted as a force to reckon with in Muranga politics.

He has been one of the President’s loyal foot soldiers in Mt Kenya until his letter emerged. He is said to have grassroots networks that have enabled him to win three different seats. Kang'ata served as a councillor in 2007 before being elected Kiharu MP in 2013 and later senator in 2017.

He, however, said he has not announced his bid for the seat.

SABINA CHEGE

After serving as woman rep for two terms, Chege has also set her sights on the county’s top seat.

The former radio presenter and mother of three was first elected in 2013 on the TNA ticket . She served as the National Assembly’s Education Committee chair and is now chairs the Health committee .

She has been a strong supporter of the President amid undertones that she might decamp to Deputy President William Ruto’s camp.

Chege is an influential politician in the county, enjoying grassroots support mainly from youths and women.

She said though she is a potential candidate, her focus is on the Building Bridges Initiative.

“One thing at a time. We first deliver the BBI and then we decide on the next step,” she told the Star.

IRUNGU NYAKERA

Nyakera, 38, chairs the Kenya Tea Sector Lobby Group, through which he has advocated the interest of tea farmers, making him a darling of farmers.

He says his grandmother is a tea farmer and the frustrations she encountered prompted him to amplify the sufferings of small-scale farmers and push for reforms in the sector.

He said his is still waiting "to see how the year progresses and what the people will tell us to make that final decision."

Nyakera, a Starehe School old boy and Financial Analysis and Decision Engineering graduate from Stanford University, served as a director at Equity Bank before joining the government as PS.

JAMLECK KAMAU

The Tana and Athi Development Authority chairman unsuccessfully stood for the position in 2017.

The former Nairobi Metropolitan Development minister is one of the seasoned politicians in the county.

Kamau neither confirmed nor denying going for the seat, only saying it is not the right time to politick as there are two years to the general election.

“This isn’t time to talk about politics, let first work for the people. We will cross the bridge when the right time comes,” he said.

IRUNGU WAIRAGU

The Water PS confirmed to the Star that residents have been calling on him to vie but did not divulge more information on whether he will indeed be on the ballot.

He is riding on his achievement of increasing the water coverage in the county through domestic and irrigation water projects, and boreholes.

Wairagu, who hails from Kiharu, has in the past engaged in war-of-words with the incumbent who accused him of sinking boreholes instead of connecting locals to Ndakaini dam water.

MOSES MWANGI

The pharmacist who has worked in the health sector for over 25 years in research, development, manufacture and commercialisation of vaccines unsuccessfully vied for the position in 2013 and 2017 elections.

In 2013, he emerged second with over 40,000 votes and got 160,000 votes in 2017. He maintained that he will battle out with other candidates in 2022 to succeed Wairia

“I will battle out with other candidates to clinch the position of the governor as I understand the challenges of water, insecurity and poor roads network better,” he said.

Mwangi is the CEO of Equatorial Nut Processors, a leading manufacturer of Therapeutic nutritional supplements in the country.

“We have been planting since 2017 and now is the time to harvest,” Mwangi told the Star, noting that his main agenda is to offer transformational leadership in health, agricultural produce value chain, job creation and education.

KEMBI GITURA

The former Senate Deputy Speaker is a seasoned politician. He is also said to be eyeing the seat.

He served as Kiharu MP between 2003 and 2007. He is a grassroots mobiliser and a close ally of President Kenyatta.

HENRY GAATE

The former adviser to  retired President Mwai Kibaki has too declared interest in the position.

Gaate has opened an office at Kenol town and is working with tertiary institutions to link students with international sponsors on business and ICT courses.

“As one of the advisers in Kibaki’s government, Gaate has the capability to steer the county to the next level,” a source close to him said.

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