By Athman Amran
When I finally caught up with him after almost a week of trying to pin him down for an interview, Makadara MP-elect Mike Mbuvi Kioko aka Sonko was still reluctant to disclose how much he spent on the campaigns.
But the flashy 35-year-old politician talked to The Standard On Sunday on how he accumulated his wealth and how he nearly failed to get a ticket to vie for the Makadara parliamentary seat on grounds he was a non-starter. Makadara MP-elect Mike Kioko Mbuvi. Photo: File/Standard
The parties that dismissed him were Prime Minister Raila Odingaâs ODM, Water Minister Charity Ngiluâs Narc, Kilome MP Harun Mwauâs Party of Independent Candidates, and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyokaâs ODM-Kenya.
Secret weapon
"When I sought nomination from ODM, I was turned away on the excuse that Reuben Ndolo had done a lot for the party and had a lot of political experience," Mbuvi said during an interview inside his Hummer in Buru Buru.
His âsecret weaponâ was support from the youth whom he had helped in many ways. They are the ones who gave him the name âSonkoâ â sheng for a man of means.
"Although I had set my eyes on the 2012 General Election, the youth wanted me to vie in the by-election when the Makadara seat fell vacant after an election petition by Ndolo," said Mbuvi.
So how did he accumulate his wealth?
Sonkoâs wealth is traced to Mombasa where he was born and educated. There, his father ran a property and real estate agency, Pelly Properties, which he co-owned with another businessman.
