- Some of the rivals include former MPs Gacuuru Karenge and Maina Kamau.
- Kandara has six wards, with a total of 98,633 registered voters, and borders Gatanga constituency to the south and Kigumo and Maragua to the north.
Image: ALICE WAITHERA
About 14 candidates are fighting to unseat Kandara MP Alice Wahome who is defending her seat for the third time.
The MP, a staunch supporter of Kenya Kwanza alliance and a founding member of UDA, is facing an uphill task of duelling with all male competitors.
The rivals include former MP Gacuuru Karenge who served the constituency from 1992 to 1997 and is vying through Democratic Party, and current Murang’a Deputy Governor Maina Kamau, an independent candidate who also served as MP from 2007 to 2012.
The seat has attracted eight more independent candidates, including Julius Kaberere, Injinia Mwaura, Patrick Karaini Gitau, Kibiru PMG Junior, Wakili Mbiyu Kamau, Anthony Njoroge Kimani, James Kimani Mburu and John Gichuhi Ndirangu.
Others vying for the seat are Erastus Gatehi Nyoike (Safina), Peter Kinyanjui Ngugi (Jubilee), Samuel Kioni (Narc-Kenya) and Njuguna Chege (Chama Cha Kazi).
Image: ALICE WAITHERA
Wahome has expressed confidence that she will be re-elected based on her development record, saying most villages have been connected with power and water through her lobbying.
"Vote for me so I can finish whatever is remaining. I have prudently managed bursaries, most feeder roads have been upgraded and most schools have power," she said.
"For those still without power, plans are in place and we are only waiting for funds, and that will be done in the next government.”
Kandara has six wards, with a total of 98,633 registered voters, and borders Gatanga constituency to the south and Kigumo and Maragua to the north.
The constituency is home to some prominent Kenyans, including current Central Bank of Kenya Governor Patrick Njoroge and his predecessor Njuguna Ndung’u.
Kandara depends on avocados for its economic survival after scores of coffee farmers uprooted coffee bushes following subsequent years of poor pay, and only a small section of the constituency practises tea farming.
With avocados fetching increasing prices, the area has been experiencing theft of the fruits, something that has forced farmers to spend sleepless nights as they guard their farms.
The thieves are also said to raid farms on Sundays while farmers are in church.
Peter Njuguna, a resident, told the Star that the area faces the challenge of voter apathy that has been affecting most parts of the Central region.
“The candidate that will be able to mobilise voters to polling stations will most likely carry the day,” he said.
Image: ALICE WAITHERA
Njuguna also said the fierce competition between Azimio La Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga and William Ruto will also affect the dynamics of who will be voted in.
The area, he said, has been a UDA zone but that could change depending on how Azimio La Umoja finishes its campaigns for Raila.
As the candidates fight for space and popularity, some have resorted to door-to-door campaigns as they woo residents to vote for them.
Weddings, burial ceremonies and other social gathering have also seen an influx of the politicians and their campaigners.
Kaberere, a humanitarian professional based in the UK, pledged to use the connections he has with international NGOs to implement programmes that will uplift the lives of residents beyond the projects implemented under CDF.
The humanitarian professional who worked as a chief programme officer under the Commonwealth secretariat in 2012 also pledged to complete Bildad Kaggia hospital that has stalled for years.
On his part, Kibiru, son to former aspirant PMG Kamau who passed away a year ago after a short illness, promised to push his fathers’ aspirations to fruition.
Kamau championed a spirited fight to have Delmonte Company surrender 7,000 acres that he said were forcefully taken from their forefathers by white settlers. His son has pledged to continue with the fight.
Jubilee Party candidate Ngugi said he will initiate many youth programmes that will help create jobs and boost the education sector.
He said the constituency requires a leader who will implement projects that are most needed by residents, saying he will consult local opinion leaders on priority projects.
Ngugi further said the current MP’s affiliation to Kenya Kwanza has hampered implementation of national government projects in the constituency.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
Image: ALICE WAITHERA