Mututho's interest in governor’s seat stirs up Nakuru politics

NACADA Chairman John Mututho address press in Nakuru where he criticized the Nakuru County for evicting hawkers [PHOTO/BONIFACE THUKU/STANDARD]

Nakuru, Kenya - John Mututho’s declaration that he will seek Jubilee’s nomination for the governorship and challenge  incumbent  Kinuthia Mbugua’s anticipated bid for re-election has kicked up a storm in the county.

Mututho, the chairman of the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA), has stepped up his criticism of the governor whom he has accused of mismanaging county affairs leading to vice and general lawlessness.

However, four MPs have come to Mbugua’s defence  and said he should be allowed to deliver on his mandate. The MPs — Joseph Kiuna (Njoro), John Kihagi (Naivasha), Samuel Arama (Nakuru Town West) and Nelson Gaichuhie — also want criticisms against the governor to be moderated. 

“If you think that the county government is corrupt and you have the evidence, you should report the matter to the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission and not seek cheap publicity in the media,” Kiuna said.

The four legislators are considered Mbugua allies, particularly after they staged a coup in the county parliamentary caucus and removed outspoken Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri from the chairmanship of the group. Ngunjiri, a vocal critic of the governor, was abroad on parliamentary duty when he was replaced, an action he has dismissed on account that it was orchestrated by Mbugua.

Mbugua’s administration has come under increased pressure, with  Mututho claiming he had been prevailed upon to challenge the governor’s anticipated bid for re-election over “failed leadership”.

Mututho told the Nakuru King Makers Forum, a group of local professionals meeting in  Lake Nakuru Lodge last week, that the governor had failed to curb the sale of illicit brews. But in a swift response, the governor said Mututho’s poor development record as Naivasha MP resulted in his failure to recapture the seat.

Rejected by voters

“We must learn to listen to voters; when they reject you, respect their decision and let others discharge their responsibilities. Mututho was rejected by voters in Naivasha and many expected he would curb the consumption of illicit brews but he has failed,” the governor said. While announcing his bid Mututho claimed he had been duped into dropping his bid for the governorship in the 2013 elections with pleas that President Uhuru Kenyatta wanted him to serve the nation in other capacities.

“This time round, nothing will stop me from going for the highest seat in this county. Let everybody know,” he said, accusing the current leadership of being intolerant of leaders with opposing viewpoints . However, some leaders have asked Mututho to first focus curbing alcohol and drug abuse.