Sleeves rolled up for 2022 Kiambu governor's race

A battle of titans is expected among politicians seeking the Kiambu county gubernatorial seat in the 2022 general election.

Some of the gubernatorial hopefuls have been traversing the region and holding low-key meetings with their strategists and residents while trying to sell their agendas and rally locals’ support.

Leaders who have expressed interest in the coveted seat include incumbent James Nyoro, Thika town MP Patrick Wainaina who has been Nyoro’s fiercest political nemesis, Senator Kimani Wamatangi and former county chief William Kabogo.

The four will fight it out for the 1,180,920 Kiambu votes with each gunning for the highest percentage of votes in populous constituencies.

The county has 12 subcounties. Ruiru has the highest number of registered voters at 159,337, followed by Thika (147,761), Juja (114,761), Githunguri (99,384), Kiambaa (95,413), Kikuyu (91,157) and Limuru (87, 258).

Others are Kabete (85,446), Kiambu (80,730), Lari (76,655), Gatundu South (75,858) and Gatundu North (67,598).

Kabogo, who is yet to make public his bid to vie for the seat is said to be putting together machinery as well as laying down strategies that will see him reclaim the seat, according to his close allies.

The outspoken leader, who has also been eyeing the Mt Kenya kingpin position, was floored by Jubilee's Ferdinand Waititu in 2017. Waititu garnered 716,336 votes against Kabogo's 192,045 votes.

Kabogo, famous for his slogan ‘Kaba Kabogo’ will be banking on support from Kiambu residents who voted in Waititu to punish him [Kabogo].

He hopes that the electorate realised their mistake after Waititu was accused of graft, gross misconduct and later impeached in 2019.

Nyoro who ascended to power in January 2020 following the successful impeachment of Waititu will be seeking to retain his seat.

The governor will be riding on the development projects that his administration has initiated across the county, some of which are complete and others underway, to woo voters.

Despite his administration facing numerous challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Nyoro boasts of initiating and overseeing projects, especially in the health department.

Recently, the county chief said that his administration has triggered massive development in the health sector that has seen improved access to quality health services across the county.

He said when he assumed office, the county had five ICU beds only and in less than two years the number has risen to 32. Also bed capacity has increased from 200 to over 1000.

He quipped that his administration cleared all debts to contractors and some of the projects that had stalled have been completed while others are on the verge of completion.

Some of the facilities that had stalled include Thogoto, Tigoni, Wangige and Rukuma Level 4 hospitals.

“We have invested heavily in the health sector through procurement of bulk oxygen, medical supplies and hiring of more medics to enable use fight the pandemic as well as improve health services to our people."

"Our determination has been to serve Kiambu residents diligently and effectively,” the governor said.

Nyoro also banks on the support of Kiambu traders having fast-tracked completion of major markets in the region including Ruiru, Juja, Kikuyu, Wangige and Githurai markets.

The markets have been a significant boost for traders within the county who had been operating under decrepit conditions.

The governor is currently spearheading the construction of modern markets in Makongeni, Gatukuyu and Kamwangi in Thika and Gatundu North subcounties.

He believes that his pursuit to revive agriculture and promote agribusiness in the county will give him a competitive edge in the race.

“My journey to transform Kiambu as an agricultural and industrial hub is picking momentum and I am optimistic that residents will support my efforts to restore the county’s lost glory,” Nyoro said.

Thika Town MP Patrick Wainaina, a political greenhorn who won his seat on an independent ticket in a Jubilee stronghold in 2017, is also a force to reckon with in next year’s general election.

Wainaina alias Wajungle, beat Jubilee’s Alice Ng’ang’a with 56,476 votes against her 50,910 votes. He will be taking his first shot at the county’s coveted seat.

The soft-spoken MP has been doing charity work in Kiambu for close to two decades through his Jungle Foundation.

He banks on his work both as an MP in Thika Town constituency and a charity ambassador in his quest for the gubernatorial seat.

The lawmaker is also a renowned macadamia and avocado trader in the Mt Kenya region.

He has been traversing the county distributing macadamia and Hass avocado seedlings to farmers with an aim of improving their productivity and woo them to support his bid.

“We have been in charity work for so many years even before thinking of joining the political leadership class," Wainaina recently said.

"Helping the needy and less fortunate in society and uplifting people like small-scale farmers has been engraved in my heart. My quest is to give Kiambu people the development-oriented leadership they deserve,” he added.

The MP, however, has not been in good books with Nyoro’s administration and has occasionally roughed shoulders with county administration for sabotaging his development projects.

One of the projects at the centre of the dispute is the boda boda sheds which his Jungle Foundation has been constructing across the county after being ‘requested' by riders.

There have been several incidents where county officials have pulled down the boda boda sheds in Ruiru, Juja, Gatundu North and Gatundu South.

"The sheds are there to help our youth in the boda boda business and it’s uncalled for, for a leader to mastermind their demolition,” the MP said.

Senator Kimani Wamatangi is also said to be eyeing the seat after two terms in the Senate. 

Wamatangi will also be riding on charity works by Wamatangi Foundation especially during the Covid-19 period to win voters’ hearts and their support in his pursuit for the coveted seat.

The battle for the seat is expected to escalate as the clock ticks towards the general election and new entrants join the race.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)