I’m the best option, says Wamwalwa

By JACOB NG’ETICH jngetich@ke.nationmedia.com and SAMWEL KUMBA skumba@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Friday, April 1 2011 at 22:00

In Summary

• With a middle name meaning ‘famous warrior’ Wamalwa is determined to live up to his mother’s expectations

Ludovic is not a popular first name for men and an equally uncommon surname or last name for all people, at least according to the 1990 United States census.

Ten years later, in the US’s 2010 statistics, the name Ludovic for boys did not make it to the top 1,000.

In Kenya not many people know him by the name, indeed, a majority would be surprised to learn that we are talking about Eugene Wamalwa.

His mother, he tells Saturday Nation, chose this special name because she wanted him to be a “famous warrior” or “famous fighter”, for that is what the name means.

And Eugene wants to do exactly what his mother would have wanted him to be by trying his luck in the race to become Kenya’s chief executive officer.

Is he that popular, does his name pop up when top presidential candidates are discussed or is he a simple spoilsport?

In his last speech, his elder brother, former vice president Kijana Wamalwa, talked of the country being 40 and life beginning at 40, and everybody thought that was really smooth.

To the young Eugene, life has just begun and at his tender age finds himself and his political career in unchartered waters.

The new kid on the block’s boyish smile bestows on him an innocence that can be easily mistaken for naivety.

Eugene Ludovic Wamalwa, as he fondly calls himself, presents a demeanour that makes people trust him, and when he talks, it seems to be from the bottom of the heart and he seems to believe what he says.

Mr Wamalwa’s intended bid for the presidency seems to be sailing along in smooth waters.

The closest he ever came to street politics is when he tumbled into a burst sewerage pipe in Kamukunji after he defied orders to cancel a meeting he had called and went to the venue.

The youthful MP has a number of endorsements under his belt for the country’s top job.

During a fund-raising event in his constituency, suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto endorsed his candidature by declaring that if he (Ruto) could not run, he was ready to support a young man like Eugene for the presidency because of “generation change”.

Former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga has also thrown his weight behind the Saboti MP.

Other endorsements have come from politicians like Ford-K chairman Musikari Kombo, President Kibaki’s son Jimmy and the youth empowerment group, Simama Kenya.

Mr Wamalwa says he feels honoured by all these endorsements and singles out Simama Kenya’s for special mention. He, however, quickly says he is not a member of the organisation.

“Every time I am disparaged as too young and too poor to take a shot at the presidency. I find this insulting and derisive of the youths of this country,” says Mr Wamalwa.

Many think he is riding on his late brother’s fame and popularity.

The elder Wamalwa was a darling of many Kenyans and charmed people with his down to earth lifesyle and superior oratory skills.

He does not deny it in totality: “Kijana, although my elder brother, was more of a father than a brother. This is because our father died when I was only seven — in 1976 — and by that time he was a lecturer at the University of Nairobi. He took care of most of us.”

Today Mr Wamalwa feels that he is the face of the youth and generation change.

“I get inspired by the Obama experience. Money is the least of my worries. When Obama spoke in Chicago after he won the elections, he said when he started the campaign 21 months earlier, many young people who supported him were college students and they donated $5, $10 and $20 to fund his campaign.”

Eugene was born in a family of 22 children, 11 boys and 11 girls.

“Kijana was very particular about our education and made sure even after our father died that we went to school,” he said of his brother.

He went to the University of Nairobi where he got a law degree before joining the Kenya School of Law.

Mr Wamalwa served in Lands minister James Orengo’s law firm during pupilage and moved to Nancy Baraza law firm for his first job.

He started his law firm, Wamalwa and Company Advocates in 2000.

Away from politics the MP does some farming on his 130 acres of land.

He speaks passionately about agriculture and is confident that Kenya can feed its people if the government puts its priorities well.

Mr Wamalwa is married to Lucy and they have 10 adopted children. They do not have their own yet.

Mr Wamalwa said when one wants to change a country, it takes team work and that explains his alliance with the Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Mr Ruto.

It has not all been smooth sailing for the Saboti MP. Questions have been asked how he hopes to win the nation’s votes before capturing the full support of the Western region.

“I tell those in doubt to remember what my brother told the Luhyia community. He said he was not the best but he was their best option at the time. Over time, they will realise that I am their best option and their support will increase,” said Mr Wamalwa.

Saturday Nation spoke to the Saboti MP.

Maina Njenga says you have yet to mature in politics?

That is why I need the support of the youth and with time, I will be an old guard.

Why Maina Njenga? Don’t you fear being tagged as an ally of the Mungiki?

Maina Njenga is a Kenyan who has a right to associate with anyone. I am not like the latter day Pharisees who were always eager to point fingers.

What happened between you and the Simama Kenya?

I am not a member of Simama Kenya. However, the movement, whose mission is to empower the youth has endorsed my presidential bid.

As you might be aware it is not a political party. I appreciate their support and together with them, I would like to empower the youth.

What is the source of your finances? How do you finance your rallies?

I have my little funds which I use and again I have very many well wishers, both mine and my late brother’s who have supported me all along.

What is your relationship with the US? To what extent have they been financing your operations?

President Obama has been keen to empower the youths in Kenya. Because he has been here, he knows the challenges of youths from Shauri Moyo, all the way to Kondele. He was here as recently as 2006, so he has a genuine need to empower the youths, and I share this dream.

I found it strange when the government kicked up a fuss about the financial support the US government was giving for youth empowerment.
I believe the best thing to do in this country is to empower youth to realise their potential. That is how far my association with the Americans go.

You were mentioned in Parliament as one of the drug peddlers. How do you expect parents of youths affected by drugs to trust you with running a nation?

As you may remember, it was Juja MP William Kabogo who dragged my name into the issue.

Up to now I don’t understand why. I am still totally lost as to why he did this. I think some people might have tried to use him. My name was, however cleared, because Eugene’s life is an open book.

Talk in town is that you are being used to spoil Raila Odinga’s chances in the presidency race?

The perception is very misplaced. Nobody is using me. We are working closely with the other political partners to ensure that we bring about change and no one is using the other.