Murungaru oozes power in senate bid

By CASPER WAITHAKA cwaithaka@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Saturday, June 11 2011 at 17:57

Former Kieni MP Chris Murungaru hopes his stint as a powerful Cabinet minister in President Kibaki’s Narc administration will help him win the Nyeri senate seat in the next General Election.

Dr Murungaru has hit the campaign trail to convince voters in the county that he is a tested leader, having over seen the critical ministry of Internal Security and Provincial Administration.

“I was able to manage the country at a time when the President was sick and thank God we pulled through, therefore, I have what it takes to steer the county,” he said.

He also prides in the fact that he was the one who lifted the ban on Mau Mau movement, which was in force when Narc came to power.

Notable names

The former minister has joined a list of notable names who have already declared their intention to vie for Nyeri county seats.

He is set to battle it out with Mr Mutahi Kagwe, the former Information and Communication minister, for the senate seat.

Former Mathira MP Ndiritu Gachagua, Dr Thuo Mathenge and Dr Njururi Mutahi have declared their interest in the governor’s seat.

Dr Njururi is the only newcomer but has been a Mukurwe-ini CDF chairman and currently is at the helm of Othaya- Mukurwe-ini water project.

Dr Mathenge has been in activism for many years and is currently the secretary general of the Ford-Asili a party associated with the second liberation.

The pertinent issues that have come up include agriculture and tourism due to the favourable weather conditions and the twin national parks in the county — Mt Kenya and Aberdares.

But his main opponent for the senate seat, Mr Kagwe, a communications specialist promises to make Nyeri an ICT hub, noting he did it for the country during his tenure as the Information minister.

“The investments we made while at the ministry have seen call rates drop from Sh30 and Sh50 to the current sh3 and also fought hard to liberalise the waves especially the Fm stations,” he said.

“I am keen on marketing the county both to national and international investors and given my business background this should come naturally,” he added.

Mr Gachagua, the former Mathira MP, also said agriculture is among his top priorities, pointing out that during his tenure as a member of the parliamentary group on agriculture he pushed for market liberalisation.

None of the candidates, however, was willing to declare their running mates and whether they would join forces.

Mr Gachagua said one cannot impose a leader on the people: “They will ask you to seek votes for yourself and let everybody else present himself.”

Although the county residents say money would be a key factor in the campaigns, the aspirants denied they would peg their hopes in money, with Mr Kagwe saying it is impossible to buy Nyeri people.