In politics, you survive by being re-elected, says Senator Khaniri

Vihiga Senator George Khaniri said his father’s death in early March 1996 landed him into politics prematurely when he was still a student.

In an interview with the Star, he said former President Daniel Moi handpicked him during his father’s (Nicodemus Khaniri’s) burial to inherit the Hamisi MP seat in the 1996 by-election on a Kanu ticket. He was 22.

“Why me? I had so many queries in my head, but once 'baba wa taifa' (the father of the nation) says something, that’s all. So I had to prepare myself for the race,” Khaniri told the Star.

“I was compete against political bigwigs under Ford Kenya led by Kijana Wamalwa, James Orengo and Mukhisa Kituyi who were backing their candidate John Isiaho.”

He said that despite his doubts while on the campaign trail, President Moi came to woo residents to support his candidature in the final days, a move that motivated him and gave him the hope of winning.

Khaniri, 48, however, says he had in-depth knowledge of the constituency, as his primary and secondary school education was within the locality.

The father of four says after Form 4, he moved to Jersey City States University to pursue a Bachelor of Arts and Economics degree before he was recalled back to the country following the death of his father. 

The lawmaker later deferred his studies after being elected as Hamisi lawmaker. He then transferred to Catholic University where he pursued political science. He is pursuing Master’s in Political Science at the University of Nairobi.

Khaniri later served as an assistant minister for Public Works and Housing (1998-99) and Agriculture and Rural Development (1999-2002) in Moi's government.

After being re-elected under Narc, Khaniri was again appointed as assistant minister (2003-04), and was later transferred to Tourism and and Wildlife in same capacity (2004-05).

Khaniri was again appointed as the assistant minister for Information and Communication in 2008.

He says serving without NG-CDF in his first two terms was quite difficult as there was no fund to support constituency projects. He said most of them had to use harambees to help constituents.

“There was no Constituency Development Fund kitty by then to help us in doing projects within the constituency. It was just the MP's effort through fundraising,” he said.

He said political bigwigs like Musalia Mudavadi, Musikari Kombo, Chris Obure, Uhuru Kenyatta and George Saitoti were the funders in his efforts to build schools, churches and roads within Hamisi.

Khaniri said despite different challenges, he built a number of schools, one health centre and supplied electricity to the constituency.

He also remembers Moi as a 'professor of politics' who kept abreast of unfolding situations.

The lawmaker says he never planned to join politics at that age, as it would be counterproductive to his profession.

“Once you land in politics, you only survive by being re-elected. If you lose, then you have to count on state nominations because no company will hire you for a job whether you have all the qualifications,” he says. 

The senator says the biggest secret to his political survival has been his closeness to his constituents and delivering on his promises. But other factors also come into play.

He says he has had to align himself with the right political party starting with the ruling party Kanu for re-election in 1997.

In 2002, he shifted from Kanu to Narc and retained his seat. Those from his region who stuck with Kanu got it rough, said.

“In the 2002 general election, President Moi imposed Uhuru Kenyatta on us, but that was not our preferred choice, and factions emerged marking the end of Kanu.

“After the exodus in Kanu, I was sacked, but I had no choice because my future was key than that ministerial post at that moment.”

Other key politicians also ditched Kanu ahead of the 2002 polls, including then cabinet ministers Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, George Saitoti, JJ Kamotho and William ole Ntimama.

“In 2005 during the referendum, orange vs banana campaigns led to the fall out between President Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga, resulting in the formation of ODM party.”

The lawmaker used ODM in 2007 to defend his seat. In 2013, he was elected as the first senator for Vihiga under the 2010 Constitution through the UDF party, which was led by then presidential candidate Musalia Mudavadi.

After the election, Mudavadi formed Amani National Congress, which teamed up with ODM, Wiper, Chama Cha Mashinani and Ford Kenya under Nasa in the 2017 general election.

Khaniri won re-election on the ANC ticket.

“How I have managed to survive on the ballot for the past 26 years is the question most people are asking,” Khaniri says.

The lawmaker served four terms as Hamisi MP and is now in his second term as Vihiga senator.

He has now trained his eyes on governorship and seeks to wrest the seat the incumbent Wilber Ottichilo.

Khaniri says he wants to continue improving the lives of Vihiga residents, who, he adds, have lost faith in devolution since its inception in 2013.

He says the county has received about Sh40 billion over that period but there is nothing to show for it.

People should be accessing services at their doorsteps and not grumbling on where to get the services, he says, claiming that Vihiga is a tiny area which has failed to realise the full benefits of devolution.

“In this century, people are still in the stream fetching water, our hospitals have no drugs, the road networks are very poor and there are no economic stimulus projects to create employment to our people. Other counties have made a huge step in changing their people’s lives,” he says.

He has not declared his party of choice despite allegations that he could be headed to ODM.

Others seeking  governor seat include former county boss Moses Akaranga of the Progressive Party of Kenya, Francis Ominde of the Federal Party of Kenya, Alfred Agoi of ANC, and businessman Alex Kidake.

(edited by Amol Awuor)