- “I was born when my dad was an MP and in those days, there was no CDF. Mzee would use his own resources and connections to help people,” Mike said.
- He however claims Deputy President William Ruto has made campaigning expensive through his generous donations.
Image: MERCY MUMO
Son of veteran politician Fred Gumo is eyeing the Westlands MP seat on an ODM ticket.
Mike Gumo says knowing to relate with the common people and his passion for education gives him a head start.
He said all his life, people have swarm their home with basic needs issues. The family, he says has always been pre-occupied with solving problems raised by the people.
The US trained accountant told the Star in an interview on Thursday that this experience has given him a special grasp of the challenges people face and how to solve them.
“I was born when my dad was an MP and in those days, there was no CDF. Mzee would use his own resources and connections to help people get bursaries, infrastructure and healthcare,” he said.
Mike says that as a young school boy, he would sit at the feet of his father and see how he did politics.
He said he learnt the ropes as well as the art of not just talking and listening to the masses, but also solving their issues whenever possible.
The 35- year-old businessman is facing ODM primaries next week and hopes the exercise is conducted fairly.
He says he is “on the ground campaigning, but sleeping only with one eye closed.”
“I tried my hands in ODM nominations in 2017 when running for MCA in Parklands. I won but the presiding officer told me to my face that I won’t be given the ticket,” Mike said.
He believes he was denied the party’s ticket in 2017 because his father was actively supporting Jubilee, when President Uhuru Kenyatta competed against ODM boss Raila Odinga.
“Though no reason was given to me then, it was an open guess. I did not defect from the party even though I got denied the ticket unjustly,” Mike said.
He believes that is what cost the party the seat which has traditionally been won by ODM.
But this time around, Mike believes all factors seem to be conspiring in his favour.
His father is perched in Raila’s inner circle and have been repeatedly pictured together in political meetings convened by COTU secretary general Francis Atwoli.
On that account alone, Mike says, he could have a good week next week.
That he is seeking to inherit his father’s old seat is a plus for him, he says.
His last name’s recognition in the constituency is high given that his father was the MP for a long time.
So, does he hope his father passes a good word to the ODM leader to get ticket favors? No.
Mike says he is not afraid of competition and that his loyalty to the party is not pegged on what he gets.
"I meet Raila regularly and he knows that I'm running. I can't know what my father tells him but I'm on the ground and I'm winning, with a huge margin.
“[But again], why shouldn’t the name Gumo give me advantage? We are in competition and whatever can give me mileage, I will use it," he said.
Mike says despite coming from a well off family, he has had to work hard to make it and that no advantage was unfairly accrued to him.
"I started working when I was 21-years-old, immediately I graduated from campus in the US. That is around 15 years of working and doing personal business to be here," he said.
Before venturing into elective politics, Mike said he worked in the US for a year before coming to the country to get employed. He later got off a formal job to be self-employed in business.
I run a show room of imported used cars, among other business interests, he said.
Mike said his agenda for the constituency should he be elected include improving education, security, health, infrastructure and sanitation especially in low income areas.
He however claims Deputy President William Ruto has made campaigning expensive through his generous donations.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)