Will Manyatta or Mbeere produce governor? – Weekly Citizen

The decision by Embu deputy governor David Kariuki to bow out of the gubernatorial race in the 2022 elections despite the support of Governor Martin Wambora has thrown the race wide open. Wambora who is serving his second and final term and therefore
ineligible to contest had in the campaigns pledged to back his deputy in the 2022 polls.

Martin Wambora

With Kariuki out, the focus now is on the governor’s perennial rivals who include former senator Lenny Kivuti who hails from Mbeere North and Jubilee nominated MP Cecily Mbarire. Kivuti and Mbarire had teamed up in the last polls where Kivuticontested for the seat on Maendeleo Chap Chap losing to Wambora. For Mbarire, she lost to the governor in the Jubilee party primaries. Other aspirants in the 2022 race include Manyatta MP John Muchiri, Kithinji Kiragu who also hails from Manyatta and Njagi Kumantha who come from Runyenjes. While bowing out of the race, Kariuki announced that he will go for the senatorial seat currently held by Njeru Ndwiga. Ndwiga the chairman of the agriculture and livestock committee of the senate was MP for Manyatta constituency between 2002 and 2007. Prior to this, he was MP for Runyenjes constituency between 1992 and 1997 and then MP for the newly created Manyatta constituency between 1998 and 2001.

David Kariuki

He is expected to defend his senatorial seat. The deputy governor is now throwing his weight behind Muchiri who a couple of months ago, announced he would vie for the seat in the 2022 general election. While declaring interest in the seat, Muchiri cautioned his opponents to brace for a tough battle, boasting he has what it takes to win the gubernatorial seat in the next polls. Muchiri said that the next Embu governor should come from either Manyatta or any Mbeere constituency, and not Runyenjes. He said after Wambora who comes from Runyenjes constituency, retires in 2022, Manyatta or Mbeere regions should produce the next governor. “This time, it’s Runyenjes that has the governor’s seat and thus the next governor should be from either Manyatta or Mbeere. But we have not said a person from Runyenjes should not vie for the seat. It’s a democratic right of everybody to stand but it will be very unfair for the seat to go to Runyenjes since there will be no equity in the distribution of resources and positions in the county,” said Muchiri. Muchiri has represented the Manyatta constituency since 2008.

Cecily Mbarire

While exuding confidence that he will trounce his rivals with a big margin, Muchiri called on Embu residents to support him so that he can win and implement projects that will improve their lives. His declaration came days after Kivuti declared he will seek the governor’s seat again in the 2022 elections. The former Siakago MP unsuccessfully contested against Wambora’s re-election in 2017 where he lost by a small margin of 985 votes. Kivuti then challenged Wambora’s victory in court but the victory was upheld by the Supreme Court. After losing the case, the former senator promised to support Wambora in his second and final term to work for the Embu people without interruption. The former Siakago MP announced that he had started a countywide initiative to reconcile and unite the people after the bruising competition in the 2017 general election. Others expected to enter the race include former Transport principal secretary Cyrus Njiru and Leonard Muriuki, both who lost to Wambora in the last elections alongside Kivuti and Kiragu.

Lenny Kivuti

Back to Kariuki, he was picked by Wambora as his running mate from the local teachers’ Winas Sacco where he was the chief executive officer. When picking him as running mate, Wambora also presented trade and tourism chief officer Josiah Thiriku as his preferred county assembly speaker before a crowd of supporters and residents at Embu stadium. The governor’s choice pointed to an intricate game of numbers and positioning of political pawns. Kariuki was an asset for Wambora as he hails from the vote-rich Manyatta constituency which was a critical swing vote besides his rival, Kivuti, having also picked his running mate from the region. Kivuti had picked former Manyatta MP Emilio Kathuri as his running mate. Wambora’s move was well calculated to ensure he got a lead over competitors, Kivuti and Kiragu, for the manyatta votes.