- Kiambu, a cosmopolitan county, has more than 300,000 residents from other ethnic groups living and working in tea plantations and factories.
- Nyoro is banking on the support of traders within the county after his administration oversaw completion of major markets within the county.
Image: JOHN KAMAU
Image: JOHN KAMAU
The gloves are off in the Kiambu governor race after the entry of six aspirants, five linked to Deputy President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
The race has attracted seven contestants seeking to unseat Governor James Nyoro.
They include former Kiambu governors William Kabogo and Ferdinand Waititu, Senator Kimani Wamatangi, MPs Moses Kuria (Gatundu South) and Patrick Wainaina alias Wajungle (Thika).
Kiambu speaker Stephen Ndichu had also declared interest in the seat under UDA but later dropped his bid.
Ndichu will now be battling out for the Kiambu Senate seat with former Ngewa MCA Karungo Thang'wa and former State House political affairs director Machel Waikenda.
Two women have also declared interest in the male-dominated race. They are Mwende Gatabaki and Juliet Kimemia.
Azimio la Umoja’s Nyoro has, however, declared a bruising battle against the Kenya Kwanza bigwigs as he seeks to retain the seat.
Nyoro is expected to bag votes from the minority communities living and working in Kiambu.
Kiambu, a cosmopolitan county, has more than 300,000 residents from other ethnic groups living and working in tea plantations and factories.
The governor, who spoke in Ruiru over the weekend while launching an upgrade programme for Ruiru town, said he will win the race.
Nyoro said he initiated and implemented transformational projects across the county that have positively impacted the lives of Kiambu residents for the last two years he has been in office
He further said he has initiated and oversaw projects, especially in the Health department, despite the numerous challenges occasioned by Covid-19.
“For example, when we assumed office, the entire county had only five ICU beds. But in a span of less than two years the number has rose to 32. Also bed capacity has increased from 200 to more than 1,000,” Nyoro said.
“We recently completed the construction of the 150-bed Ruiru Level 4 Hospital and we are in the process of putting up a Central Medical Store in the facility.
"This will ensure an uninterrupted supply of medical supplies in all our health facilities.”
He said his administration cleared all debts owed to contractors and completed some of the projects that had stalled for years.
Some of the facilities that had stalled include Thogoto, Tigoni, Wangige and Rukuma level four hospitals.
“We have invested heavily in the health sector, including procurement of bulk oxygen, medical supplies and hiring of more medics,” the governor said.
Nyoro is banking on the support of traders within the county after his administration oversaw completion of major markets within the county.
The markets include Githurai, Wangige, Ruiru, Juja and Kikuyu.
Other markets that are underway include Madaraka market in Thika, Kiganjo market in Gatundu South and Gatukuyu and Kamwangi markets in Gatundu North.
“Our traders were operating in poor conditions and we initiated the markets upgrade programme to give them a conducive environment to operate in.”
Nyoro, who is an agricultural economist, said his desire to revive agriculture and promote agribusiness in the county will give him a competitive edge.
“My journey to transform Kiambu as an agricultural and industrial hub is picking momentum and I am optimistic that Kiambu residents will support my efforts to restore the county’s lost glory,” he said.
(edited by Amol Awuor)