Election transformed jobless graduate to a worldy traveller

When David Kinyua, 29, rode a boda boda (motorbike taxi) to deliver his nomination papers for the Mutira Ward by-election in Kirinyaga in September 2012, he painted the picture of a loser.

At the time, Kinyua – despite being a university graduate in Industrial Chemistry – had two assets to his name; a two-roomed timber house, and a calf.

He was facing off against TNA candidate Ezekiel Mugera – whose campaign had adequately been funded by then Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s party machinery.

Kinyua, on the other hand, a Grand National Union (GNU) candidate, campaigned on foot, relying on the goodwill of local people who valued his ‘remarkable education’, but were ultimately swayed the other way.

Accumulated debt

Remarkably, Kinyua lost the by-election by a arrow margin; 15 votes. But the fact remained that he had lost.

He sunk into depression and desperation – having accumulated debts and sold his belongings to fund his campaign.

He even lost a contractual teaching job – which he had taken up a year earlier after ‘tarmacking’ endlessly in Nairobi, in search of a job commensurate with his degree.

Kinyua had been far from a wealthy man before, but the poverty that now knocked on his door was the dire kind.

As the educated young man  walked back to his timber ramshackle, head bowed, mulling over whether his dream of representing his people would come true.

He also pondered his financial future because he had even sold his calf – the one he had thought would be his entry into the world of successful livestock farming.

Despite these challenges, Kinyua managed to carry on with life, his political ambitions still burning in his heart.

Come the 2013 polls, the Mutira electorate persuaded him to contest again, and overwhelmingly gave him their support, resulting in a landslide victory that ensured he was their representative at the Kirinyaga County Assembly.

A year later, the young politician’s tenure has re-written his history.

Today, Kinyua is the Kirinyaga County Assembly Majority Leader – a position that comes with all sorts of privileges.
He has travelled to Rwanda and Malaysia among other destinations, and drives around the ward in a shiny new vehicle.

Rare experience

As a member of three house committees, with a maximum of 32 sittings per month, his monthly allowances can add up to as much as Sh100,000, once the loan and tax deductions are made.

“My first vehicle was a Toyota Probox, but after the salaries and remuneration commission allowed us to take car loans, I purchased a Toyota Avensis,” says Kinyua. “Members of the public and the media need to change their attitude because we buy these cars using loans, just like anybody else can approach a bank for a loan.”

“The kind of reception we get from members of the public while driving our vehicles is really shocking. They should realise we need the automobiles to be able to serve them better.”

Kinyua has since hired a driver to operate a taxi business along the Kerugoya-Kagumo road using his older car.

Of the Malaysian trip, Kinyua admits he was excited, not only because it was his first time to jet out of the country, but also because it presented a rare learning experience on matters devolution.

“My pleasure came from learning that we, just like Malaysia, can use devolution to better the lives of our people.”