- She spoke when launching a training for at least 300 youths on upgrading their skills to conform with the changing trends of technology.
- She has also said she will only listen to three categories of people in her political journey: her husband, the clergy and the voters.
Laikipia Woman Representative Catherine Waruguru has declared a bruising battle for the Laikipia East seat in the 2022 polls.
She will be facing The Service Party leader Mwangi Kiunjuri, a former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary.
“I know my brother Mwangi Kiunjuri intends to contest for Laikipia East MP’s seat and I want to welcome him in the race,” Waruguru said.
She said she was still shopping for a favourable party on whose ticket she will vie. Kiunjuri has yet to officially declare his candidature or interest in the seat.
Waruguru told Kiunjuri to allow her to combine forces with his political opponents and nemeses so that she can teach him a lesson.
“Leave alone the current legislator Mohammed Amin and immediate former MP Mutahi Kimaru. The race will be between two horses, which are Waruguru and Kiunjuri,” she said.
She said she will bank on her "mouth", God and poverty to campaign and will be participating in fair politics.
Waruguru said Nanyuki and Laikipia East constituencies do not believe in the idea of "repeater politics", noting that it was shameful for Kiunjuri, a statesman, to contest for the MP’s seat, equating the issue to eating children’s food.
“Kiunjuri has been the area MP for 15 years, vied for Laikipia governor’s seat in 2013 and lost, supported former Governor Joshua Irungu in 2017 and they lost again,” Waruguru said.
She added that despite Kiunjuri being voted for three consecutive terms in Laikipia East, residents of Majengo and Likii on the outskirts of Nanyuki town have never got title deeds.
Waruguru said she will only listen to three categories of people in her political journey: her husband, the clergy and the voters.
She will also be facing off against Amin, Kimaru, Michael Waigwa and Anthony Rukwaro, among others.
The legislator said there is a generational revolution in Laikipia, adding that she would not give any political direction to his supporters for the presidential seat until December this year.
Waruguru spoke when launching training for at least 300 youths from the county. They are upgrading their skills to conform with the changing trends of technology in the construction industry.
National Industrial Training Authority, National Construction Authority and Eurofix Industries Limited have partnered to offer the one-week training at Waruguru's Nanyuki town office.
Speaking to the media, Eurofix representative Wilson Iraya said the workers will acquire certificates after the session so that they can compete fairly in the sector.
"We are privileged to train these youth and women who have ventured into the construction industry. We want to adequately train our people so that they can tap into the international job market. That notion that the construction sector does not pay should end," Iraya said.
NITA director Edward Mucheru said the programme, which will be rolled out to the 47 counties, is aimed at eradicating joblessness and poverty among the youth.
"The biggest debate in Kenya today revolves around unemployment and poverty among our young people. That is why we are improving their competence to boost their employability," Mucheru said.
Waruguru said the programme is aimed at reducing the cost of construction through the introduction of modern technology in the sector.
"Your clients are looking for reduced cost of construction. They need your advice so that they can make appropriate decisions on how to lower that cost," she said.
Emanuel Mwaniki, a Nanyuki-based constructor, said the training will offer them a platform to sharpen their skills and benefit from local contracts.
"For the first time, I am getting equipped with construction skills for free. The majority of us do not have certificates, hence are edged out of crucial government tenders," Mwaniki said.
The training is rolled out through the Laikipia's National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) programme dubbed 'Fanikisha Ndoto'.