•Mwangaza says her husband Murega Baichu’s artistic skills of guitar playing to charm crowds contributed 50 per cent to her successful campaign.
•She defied all odds and outshined outgoing governor Kiraitu Murungi even in his backyard, South Imenti, where she garnered 31,921 votes against Kiraitu's 22,359.
Image: GERALD MUTETHIA
Meru elect-governor Kawira Mwangaza joined the race as an independent candidate despite the huge Azimio la Umoja and Kenya Kwanza waves in the county.
Such was the gamble by Mwangaza but it paid off.
Mwangaza says her husband Murega Baichu’s artistic skills of guitar playing to charm crowds contributed 50 per cent to her successful campaign.
She faced insults women politicians in a heavily patriarchal society.
Mwangaza was called a drama queen and ruthless.
However, she defied all odds and outshined outgoing Governor Kiraitu Murungi even in his backyard, South Imenti, where she garnered 31,921 votes against Kiraitu's 22,359.
She garnered 209,148 votes with Mithika Linturi coming in second with 183,859 votes.
Linturi conceded defeat.
The outgoing governor was third with 110,814 votes.
“I promise you, Meru will be the best county. There will be sustainable development projects. I will unite all the people despite their sub-tribes,” Mwangaza said on Friday.
Born in 1979 at Ontulili village in Buuri, Mwangaza went to CCM Ontulili Primary school from 1981-1988.
Mwangaza later joined Moyale Girls Secondary school in 1989-1992.
An alumnus of Kampala University, she achieved her Bachelor of Education in guidance and counselling in 2011.
In 2009 she studied human resource management at Makerere University in Uganda and in 2012 she enrolled on an unspecified certificate course at Meru University according to the Kenyan Parliament Website.
She threw her first stab in elective leadership in 2013 where she vied for Buuri MP seat but was defeated by Kinoti Gatobu.
She clinched the Woman Representative seat as an Independent candidate in 2017 despite Jubilee and PNU candidate’s party waves.
Mwangaza attributed her win to God, her husband and the faith Meru people have had in her due to her exemplary performance.
She said she entered the race as an independent candidate so that her win would not be credited to either Azimio la Umoja or Kenya Kwanza.
“I did not want my win to be associated with any political kingpin of a political wave. Mine was God-given,” she said.
In a Whatsapp chat before the August 9 general elections, she told the Star her win means development and unity to the Meru people.
There has been fear for women in Meru seeking elective seats since 1978 after Annrita Karimi, the MP was jailed for 18 months and dethroned from the seat through trumped-up charges against her.
The promulgation of the Constitution in 2010 with the creation of women rep seats has brought limelight and confidence they too can lead.
She worked as the Chief Executive Officer of Mwangaza Distributors, a company specialising in energy solutions.
Mwangaza has been building houses for the poor, sinking boreholes, donating dairy cows, giving school uniforms, desks, blankets and gumboots, besides offering scholarships through her philanthropic ‘Okolea Kaana Ka Meru’ initiative.
Kawira did not print campaign billboards and posters but utilised her husband’s Kimeru Baite TV station to sell her candidacy to residents.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris