Kenya is truly into one of the most competitive polls in recent history and battle lines have been drawn between opposing camps in the August 9th, 2022 general elections.
With less than 100 days before the Country goes to the polls, the race for the top seat (the Presidency) is building up steam. Bound by electoral timelines, aspirants for the position have unveiled their running mates, paving way for the official campaign period at the end of the month.
Kenyans are understandably paying attention to the situation on the national stage as the two front runners in the Presidential election (according to pollsters), Deputy President William Ruto (Kenya Kwanza) and Raila Odinga (Azimio la Umoja One Kenya), traverse the country drumming up support for their candidatures.
Amid profound interest in the presidential race, the electorates aren’t taking their eyes off the goings-on at the grassroots. Unlike the previous two elections in 2013 and 2017, the 2022 poll has attracted an unprecedented number of ‘strong’ candidates for gubernatorial positions especially given the entry of majority of former state and public officers who have thrown their hats into the ring as they try their hands at politics.
Spotlight on Machakos
The situation in Machakos County, just like in other regions, truly depicts this political state of affairs. A battery of political heavyweights has lined up to succeed Governor Alfred Mutua and Maendeleo Chap Chap (MCC) party leader who is serving his second and final term in office.
The seat has attracted five candidates namely; Johnson Muthama (United Democratic Alliance), former Transport CAS Wavinya Ndeti (trying her luck for a third time), Ex-State House Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita, Mutua’s Deputy Francis Maliti as well as Rose Mulwa of the Empowerment and Liberation Party (ELP).
The voting patterns of the county with a cosmopolitan population are such that they are so inconsistent and unpredictable, that it is hard to rule out any candidate. This is partly the reason why attempts to “zone” the area by major political coalitions have been met with huge resistance.
Although Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition appears to wield some influence owing to past inclination by Kamba region political bigwigs, the recent exit of Maendeleo Chap Chap and Wiper Democratic Movement parties (if confirmed) from the coalition might in all likelihood have a major impact on who will hoard the majority of the votes in the presidential poll.
A newcomer, Waita of CCU party is exciting the electorate. He has aligned his party to the Azimio coalition and is openly campaigning for Raila to be the next President.
Wiper’s political fortunes
Previous elections have shown that there is no dominant party in the region, Kalonzo’s Wiper included a fact that Waita seems fully aware of. Unlike in other regions where parties led by their political kingpins enjoy dominance, the electorate in Machakos gives the impression that it has risen above party politics to an extent that it votes in leaders based on what they promise to do.
It goes without saying that Kalonzo’s political outfit has unsuccessfully contested two successive gubernatorial elections and lost to Mutua’s MCC party.
Wiper, however, redeemed itself in the Senatorial by-election occasioned by the death of Boniface Kabaka who had won the seat on CCU ticket. The party’s candidate Agnes Kavindu won with a landslide by garnering a whopping 104,352 votes followed by Urbanus Muthama Ngengele of UDA who bagged 19,726 votes.
The win appeared to have humbled Muthama who backed Ngengele for the seat.
The local political intrigues have bolstered Waita’s candidacy and if history is anything to go by, the former Statehouse official might pull a major surprise just like the outgoing governor Dr. Alfred Mutua who won the seat with the then little known Maendeleo Chap Chap party.
Viewed as a greenhorn by his rivals, Waita’s debut in politics is nonetheless causing jitters in Machakos. Ever since he handed in his resignation as Statehouse Chief of Staff, he has quietly taken time to reach constituents in person across the eight constituencies in the county.
Waita is banking on his track record and experience in government to convince voters into electing him, having played a role in steering the Jubilee administration’s realization of the Big Four Agenda.
He has endeared himself to residents using his ‘talk to me’ campaign strategy where he interacts with residents, listening to their concerns, and challenges, and even welcoming their advice on what should be his priority areas should they elect him as Machakos Chief Executive Officer come August.
Besides committing to transform the county into a Metropolis for Nairobi, he has pledged to deal with issues of poor roads, lack of sewerage systems, water problems, poor health standards and hospitals.
He is also promising to improve education standards by setting up TVET institutions, additional Early Childhood Education classrooms (ECD), and the employment of more ECD teachers.
Waita recently picked Machakos County Assembly Speaker Florence Mwangangi as his running mate. The pair soon rolled out a series of consultations with local communities spearheaded by the Machakos Council of Elders, Business Community, Professionals, Youth and Women Leaders.
Mwangangi, an accomplished Lawyer, Mentor, and former Commissioner at the Judicial Service Commission, is known for her ability to mobilize grassroots support.
Muthama has also settled on a woman running mate Faith Muli and both have vowed to work together to deliver quality services to the people.
Wavinya Ndeti’s chances
Other than Muthama, the Waita-Mwangangi ticket is said to be giving Wavinya Ndeti sleepless nights. The former CAS has twice unsuccessfully run for governor. She is however banking on her previous experiences to trounce rivals.
Her selling points include strategic leadership, policy direction, a secure environment and achieving social, economic, and political development.
The former MP stronghold includes Kathiani constituency neighbouring Matungulu and populous Mavoko constituencies, where she hails from, whereas Waita is popular in Kangundo, Masinga, Yatta, Kangundo, Machakos Town, and Mwala constituencies.
The Mutua Factor
Governor Dr. Alfred Mutua is not without an interest in the August poll. The outgoing county chief is keen to maintain a grip on the county politics and has sponsored Maliti, his deputy, to take over once he exits the stage. Maliti is counting on Mutua’s support base and development record to win the seat.
The Empowerment & Liberation Party (ELP) candidate Rose Mulwa is wooing the youth by promising a fresh start and new opportunities.
With the candidates pulling all the stops to woo the voters, their ideologies and policies will be interrogated Thursday tonight when the first county gubernatorial debate premiers on KBC Channel One TV.
The five candidates will face off during a live TV debate that might prove crucial in helping the undecided voters make up their minds on who to support come August.
