Wamatangi will be facing off with the incumbent James Nyoro, former governor William Kabogo, Thika MP Jungle Patrick Wainaina and the Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria.
Image: WILLIAM RUTO/FACEBOOK
Kiambu is agriculturally rich but tapping its agribusiness potential needs a mindful leadership, governor hopeful Kimani Wamatangi has said.
He says it’s time to change and advocates for a common-sense approach through practical solutions.
“In order to achieve this, my administration will be anchored on five key pillars that will ensure our highest aspirations are met within the next five years,” the Kiambu senator told the Star during an interview on Sunday.
The five pillars include democratic governance, people-centered pillar, resource mobilisation, competitiveness and harmony which are his major stepping stones if elected Kiambu governor come August 9 General Election.
“I have placed particular emphasis on critical areas with key focus in poverty eradication, promotion of education, youth and women empowerment and supporting the elderly,” said the outgoing Senator.
Wamatangi will be facing off with the incumbent James Nyoro, former governor William Kabogo, Thika MP Jungle Patrick Wainaina and the Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria.
Wamatangi said since time immemorial, Kiambu has been hit by acute water shortage, adding that water rotation by water companies in the county has been the norm and an impediment to growth.
“We have very many resources in Kiambu and under my resource pillar, I have laid special attention to ensuring water catchments including natural resource-areas are rehabilitated and well conserved,” he said.
He added, “since I was elected Senator, my foundation has supplied water in most needy homes who could not access water easily. Therefore, ‘My Maji Nyumbani’ initiative will ensure every home has piped water for domestic and farming use.”
Wamatangi said Agriculture being Kiambu’s main stay with production of coffee, tea and dairy farming cannot perform well without proper water articulation, water harvesting and security through dams and water reservoirs.
The legislator added that he aims to protect wetlands and water towers in conjunction with the National government.
On his governance style, the senator said his administration will strive to ensure balanced, prudent and sustainable development across the county.
“Poor governance has led to massive corruption and formation of illegal cartels in the previous regimes where the Senate had to close the corruption chapter in Kiambu leading to upholding approval of ouster motion by the County Assembly to remove the immediate former governor,” he said.
Former governor Ferdinand Waititu was impeached under allegations of having embezzled Sh588 million as well as gross mismanagement of the county resources.
“We therefore need democratic governance to combat corruption that has led citizens to lose trust in the county government. I intend to earn back their trust through unmatched service delivery and open, democratic governance,” Wamatangi said.
He said he will has also give top priority to provision of quality, affordable and accessible healthcare.
Wamatangi said there will be a particular focus on maternal healthcare and child health services.
“Health has been a major challenge in Kiambu, I will ensure we get modern, fully equipped hospitals with enough supply of medicine and enough personnel in all hospitals and dispensaries.”
He said he also aims to intervene on job creation for all.
“However, our top priority will be the ‘Kazi Kwa Wote’ programme, in which all Kiambu citizens will be provided with increased employment opportunities through a range of measurable activities,” the senator said.
He added, “I will also focus on creating an enabling business environment for small, medium and large-scale businesses.”
Wamatangi emphasised that the youth will benefit from educational opportunities, support for small businesses and startups and also increased employment opportunities via a multi-faceted approach to attracting and retaining business investments in the county.
On education, Wamatangi said he aims to ensure his government leaves no child behind in education and future employment opportunities.
Under his administration, Thika town will stand tall in the country and continent as an industrial smart city attractive to investors and businesspeople, generating billions in revenue.
The revenue collected from the new developments of the city will uplift the lives of millions of people living in Kiambu without having to wait for financial allocations from the national government.
Kiambu has been lacking such innovative leadership that create new revenue streams for the county's kitty.
“My administration will initiate the Kiambu Stands Tall with the Thika Industrial Smart City initiative. Under this project, Thika town will be developed into a world-class industrial city, spurring growth to uplift the livelihoods for all Kiambu citizens.
He said while he faces a reunited Kiambu citizenry, he aims to instil harmony to bring a renewed focus on uniting all the people of Kiambu.
“I stand for transformation today, for a better Kiambu tomorrow. I therefore take great pride and pleasure to request for votes and I believe that God's glory will shine upon us to better Kiambu,” he said.
Wamatangi is credited for his spirited fight in defence of devolution during his tenure in the Senate.
He takes pride in having started the fight for a fairer allocation of county revenue to the 47 counties in Kenya that was branded one-man, one-vote, one shilling.
This agitation snowballed into a national conversation that led to an incremental gain of national allocation to populous counties including Kiambu among other Mt Kenya counties. The same conversation was central to the Building Bridges Initiative debate.
He is also banking on his legislative work where he sponsored the bill on Assumption of Office of a Governor that became law. The law ensures a smooth transition from outgoing governor to the next and helps safeguard county property and assets during the transition period.
Wamatangi sponsored the Medium, Small, and Micro Enterprises bill which allows for automatic qualification for full HELB loan for a student admitted to the university for regular modules via JABB and abolishment of the punitive Sh5,000 monthly penalty on HELB loan.
He also sponsored a bill to protect cottage and small-scale manufacturers and distributors from the punitive multiple licensing fees charged in each of the counties. The Senator also sponsored the County Assemblies Services Bill 2017.