Anxiety is growing: Who will be the next Kabete MP?
Anxiety is growing among the residents of Kabete constituency over who would take over the parliamentary seat that was left vacant after the death of MP George Muchai.
Three names keep coming up in political discussions – former Kikuyu MP Lewis Nguyai, James Wanjohi (alias Kana Funny) who vied for the seat last time on a PICK ticket but lost to Muchai and John Chege, a green horn in politics.
Chege, however, also vied for the Uthiru county assembly representative seat in the last elections but dropped out before the actual elections date.
Another interested candidate who comes from the neighbouring constituency of Kikuyu is John Wamagata who is a human rights activist and the founder of the UNGA REVOLUTION.
Wamagata also vied for the Kikuyu parliamentary seat last elections but lost to Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwa.
“I want to make sure my name is on the ballot so we do not have a repeat of what happened in Gatundu South,” said Wamagata.
Wamagata alleged the Jubilee coalition party ensured that the current MP, Moses Kuria, won the parliamentary election seat unopposed after they prevailed on the other aspirants to step down.
“I want to make sure the people of Kabete have a fair game during the expected parliamentary elections by having my name on the ballot since I cannot be bought out”.
Questioned about his ‘greed’ in crossing over from his constituency, Kikuyu, and coming to vie in Kabete, Wamagata said, “Anyone can vie for a parliamentary seat in any constituency whether they are a registered voter there or not. All I want is fair play,” said Wamagata in a phone interview.
The candidates would, however, wait until the area parliamentary seat is declared vacant by the national assembly speaker Justin Muturi to express their interests in the seat and start campaigning.
However, the deceased MP’s personal assistant Amos Muguku speaking during prayers held in honour of the departed said Kabete needed a leader who was development conscious and would continue in the work initiated by MP Muchai.
“Muchai was friendly to everyone, he also built roads, gave education bursaries and was also very development conscious. When the time for campaigns and elections come, we want a leader who will continue in the same streak,” said Muguku.
Chris Waiganjo, a resident of Kikuyu, said the number of candidates for the parliamentary seat is to increase.
“I believe most aspirants are still ‘underground’ and have not voiced their political ambitions as they give the people of Kabete time to mourn their fallen leader,” said Waiganjo.
Waiganjo also added that the person who would win the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) ticket would be the next MP since Kabete was in Kiambu County, predominantly under the leadership of President Uhuru Kenyatta who the residents admire and respect.
By Anne Njeri Kanina.
HTBluff Associates. An EMG Consortium #HTBLUFF/Diaspora Messenger Contributor
