A crowded field of 11 in race for Juja

By OLIVER MUSEMBI
Posted Saturday, August 21 2010 at 22:00
In Summary

Newcomers join previous contestants in battle to win hearts of vast constituency

The Juja parliamentary by-election is set to be a crowded race with at least 11 aspirants eyeing the seat.

They include the immediate former MP, Mr George Thuo, who lost the seat in a petition filed by his arch-rival, Mr William Kabogo, also a former area MP.

Mr Kabogo, who is the Narc Kenya candidate, has the backing of former Cabinet minister and Gichugu MP Martha Karua.

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to campaign for Mr Thuo, former Government Chief Whip, who has already been cleared by PNU.

However, his nomination has not been without controversy with former area MP Stephen Ndicho, who was seeking the PNU nomination, criticising the move.

“The move by the party headquarters will only have the effect of making the candidate even more unpopular,” said Mr Ndicho, who also declared that his name will be on the ballot paper on a party he is yet to disclose.

The seat has attracted a host of other candidates including newcomers and previous contestants.

Other candidates who have received clearance from their parties to contest the September 20 by-election include Jackson Kamau Ngoima (National Alliance Party of Kenya), Francis Munyua Waititu (Chama Cha Mwananchi), Charles Ng’ang’a Muchai (Democratic Party) and Alice Wambui Ng’ang’a (Kenya National Congress).

Andrew Ng’ang’a Wanjukira and Dick Githaiga are eying the ODM ticket, but the party is yet to conduct nominations. Also in the race is Ms Mary Kirika of ODM Kenya. The party is yet to decide whether to sponsor a candidate or support the PNU aspirant.

Joining the race for the first time, Mr Ngoima, a youthful career accountant, has the backing of university students whose leaders recently met and endorsed his candidature.

The eloquent son of a former PCEA cleric was a key ally and campaigner of Mr Thuo in 2007. His strongholds are Thika municipality and Gatuanyaga.

Another new face is Mr Waititu, a farm management consultant who is also the CCM national organising secretary. Known popularly as Wakapee, Mr Waititu has contacts with large-scale coffee farmers and has close links with the Catholic Church.

Mr Muchai, a former high school principal and director of Family Bank, was the 2002 Narc candidate. He has hit the campaign trail on a DP ticket.

Ms Ng’ang’a, the 2007 second runners-up who contested on a Safina ticket, has the support of Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth and has been conducting quiet campaigns throughout the vast constituency.

Mr Ndicho served as MP for two consecutive terms (1992-2002). “I believe in proper representation of the people and, having served at a time when there were little resources, I wish to ensure all constituency funds are accounted for,” said the former MP.

The politician-turned preacher has a reputation for defending the underprivileged.

Mr Githaiga, a former nominated councillor commonly known as “Dimken”, has a long history in local politics, having been a pioneer and long serving chairman of the Democratic Party in the region.

Another fresh entrant in the race is Mr Daudi Kigwe, a Nairobi-based businessman, who has obtained the Farmers Party ticket.

Mr Kabogo, previously known to hop around in his private chopper in his hunt for votes, has this time changed tack and has been traversing the constituency by road.

He is known to have immense resources which he uses liberally in his campaigns. Mr Thuo is expected to put up a formidable fight to reclaim the seat. He recently published a booklet detailing his achievements in the two-year stint in Parliament.

Source: Nation