Corridors of Power

A former MP known for his flamboyant lifestyle has gone underground because he is unable to pay his outstanding bills in some of the city’s posh hotels. The MP has not set foot in any of the hotels where he owes large sums and has made sure their representatives cannot reach him to collect the debts.
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Rumour has it that suspended Higher Education minister William Ruto been co-opted into the President’s inner sanctum of advisors. The personal aide of a central Kenya MP was overheard complaining that Ruto's 'closeness' to Kibaki has of late been worrying some of the MPs from Central Kenya. They are concerned that Kibaki is listening to Ruto's advise and ignoring their contribution.

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Immediate former Kamukunji MP Simon Mbugua is not a coward.At least that is what he was overheard telling some of his friends. He said the fact that he has been quiet since his ouster as MP should not be misconstrued as cowardice. He says he has been laying the ground in readiness for the fight to defend his parliamentary seat. Mbugua has been transversing the constituency consulting "opinion leaders." The latest such venture was last Friday when he was spotted at the popular Burma Market along Jogoo Road where he was with local youth leaders.

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He may be riding high among moralists and the elite but Naivasha MP John Mututho is not so popular among his electorate, most of whom have been hit hard by the new Alcohol rules. Realising that he was loosing popularity, Mututho was effusive in complementing Environment minister John Michuki for initiating a Sh2billion mega project to conserve the receding Lake Naivasha which is in his constituency. Mututho told the minister that the project was good for his political career because if it was successfully implemented, it may see him being re-elected back to Parliament. Others who see their chances of re-election being boosted by the project include William Ntimama, Jeremiah Kioni, Erastus Mureithi and David Ngugi, whose constituencies are the catchment areas of the rivers feeding the lake.

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With 2012 general election within sight, MPs have started reviving the contacts and friendships of the people they dropped soon after the 2007 election. A first time MP from Eastern province shocked one of his old friends whom he had ignored for the last three years just to say it was just a greeting. The bewildered friend was not taken in and has vowed not to help the MP whom he believes wants to use him in his campaigns next year.