Political loyalty pays off for Machakos youthful MCAs

Several youths have landed jobs as nominated MCAs at the Machakos assembly, courtesy of political parties.

This is despite the fact that the 2022 polls also left hundreds of political casualties across the country.

Those nominated to the position have proved that political loyalties not only in parties, but also parties’ leaderships have eventually paid off.

Wiper and Maendeleo Chap Chap are among the dominant parties at the assembly, hence had more nomination slots for their members.

Catherine Wambua and Anastasia Mutevu were among those nominated to the assembly by Wiper, a political outfit they have served for several years with utmost loyalty, zeal and zest.

The two have also served the party in various ways and positions.

They were members of the Young Wiper Democrats and also served in Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s security protocol until the just concluded 2022 general election.

Mutevu also doubled as Machakos Woman MP Joyce Kamene’s personal assistant since she was elected to Parliament in 2017. She is serving her second term in the National Assembly.

The duo have already joined other nominated and elected colleagues and are part of the members attending an orientation meeting at the assembly ahead of their swearing-in on Tuesday.

Wiper also nominated Ukambani legend Mulu Mutisya’s daughter Irene Mbithe to the assembly.

Mbithe has been loyal to Wiper.

She served former Machakos senator Johnson Muthama for several years before he ditched the party for United Democratic Alliance, which he apparently chairs after parting ways with Kalonzo.

Mbithe, however, chose to remain loyal to Kalonzo. Her patience and loyalty to the Ukambani kingpin eventually paid off.

Mercy Njagi who served in former Machakos governor Alfred Mutua’s communication team was also nominated on his Maendeleo Chap Chap party.

The four are among the youths nominated by various parties to the Machakos assembly.

Wiper nominated seven, MCCP (five), UDA (two), while Chama Cha Uzalendo and Mutua Katuku’s Peoples Trust party each had one.

The nominees joined MCAs – elect in a two – day orientation session as they prepared for their swearing-in.

Machakos clerk Joseph Mutisya conducted the drill on Saturday and Sunday.

"You cannot just come from outside and enter into the chamber. There are standing orders with some rules on the way the MCAs, especially the new ones, are supposed to conduct themselves,” he said on Saturday.

Mutisya said swearing-in of the MCAs – elect is the first item on the Tuesday’s agenda, followed by election of the speaker and deputy.

He said several people have applied for the speaker’s position, but declined to reveal their identities.

The Star established that lawyers Ann Kiusya and Bernard Mung’ata are among those who have shown interest for the position and subsequently submitted their applications.

Mung’ata is a former speaker who served in the same assembly between 2013 and 2017.

He unsuccessfully contested for the Machakos Senate seat on a Maendeleo Chap Chap ticket in 2022.

The two are expected to present a bruising battle given their financial might and political connections.

Kiusya enjoys Wiper party’s support considering her family's closeness to Governor Wavinya Ndeti.

Mung'ata has MCCP’s support with the party leader Alfred Mutua’s blessings.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)