The race for the Mwingi North parliamentary seat is taking a family angle, with former MP John Munuve facing the prospect of competing against his younger sister, Martha Munyoki, in next year’s polls.
The two openly declared their ambitions at the burial of retired teacher Aaron Wambua Musya, popularly known as Kisinga, in Kyuso village on Saturday, signalling their intention to challenge incumbent MP Paul Nzengu.
The political declarations came despite an earlier appeal by the family, delivered by master of ceremonies Theophilus Mutemi, urging speakers to refrain from politics during the solemn ceremony.
Munuve, who is seeking to reclaim the seat he previously held, said he would contest on the Wiper Patriotic Front ticket associated with Kalonzo Musyoka, a presidential hopeful from Mwingi North.
Munyoki declared her intention to run on President William Ruto’s UDA ticket.
The siblings made their pitches to mourners as they sought to build support ahead of the 2027 elections.
A third aspirant, youthful politician Harriet Muthui, also announced her bid for the constituency seat at the ceremony.
However, it is not yet certain whether Munuve and his sister will eventually face each other at the ballot.
Both must first secure their respective parties’ nomination tickets, with formidable competition already emerging within their political camps.
Munuve faces the challenge of taking on Nzengu and other aspirants in the Wiper primaries, while Munyoki is expected to contend with lawyer Charles Mwalimu, who is also seeking the UDA ticket.
The outcome of the party nominations will therefore determine whether the siblings’ political ambitions culminate in a direct electoral contest or are halted before the General Election.
Munyoki, who spoke before her brother at the funeral, told mourners she was determined to pursue the seat and urged them to support her candidature when voters go to the polls next year.
She said she had been President Ruto’s point person in Mwingi North for a long time and had recently been distributing cash and relief food through government community empowerment initiatives.
She urged residents to remember her when casting their ballots, presenting her involvement in the programmes as part of her engagement with the community.
In an apparent concern over the implementation of the empowerment initiatives, Munuve called for transparency and cautioned against the diversion of resources intended for beneficiaries.
He urged residents not to turn away cash or relief food distributed through initiatives supported by President Ruto’s allies, but insisted that the assistance should reach its intended recipients in full.
“All these items belong to us. Do not hesitate to receive them. But they should reach the intended beneficiaries, and our people should receive the same quantities as those provided at the source, devoid of diversion,” Munuve said.
He also urged residents to accept the assistance while supporting Kalonzo for the presidency, drawing a distinction between benefiting from government programmes and making political choices at the ballot.
Meanwhile, Muthui, who presents herself as a youthful, energetic candidate and identifies with Generation Z, promised to accelerate development across Mwingi North if elected.
She drew laughter from mourners when she pledged to tarmac roads throughout the constituency, including footpaths leading to people’s kitchens, provided, she joked, that she found the gates open as she embarked on her development agenda.
