Governor Alfred Mutua: Maendeleo Chap Chap to field candidates

Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua greets residents of Embu town yesterday when he took his campaign to popularise the Maendeleo Chap Chap party to Embu County where he spelt out the party’s development-oriented manifesto. Mutua is now vowing to field “Chap Chap” candidates across the country in the 2017 elections. (PHOTO: JOSEPH MUCHIRI/ STANDARD)

Buoyed by warm reception of his Maendeleo Chap Chap movement, Machakos Governor Dr Alfred Mutua is now vowing to field “Chap Chap” candidates across the country in the 2017 elections.

Mutua has confirmed that MCC will approach 2017 as a political vehicle and that there is a snowball in hell’s chance of him trooping back to Wiper Democratic Movement.

In an interview with The Standard on Saturday over a wide range of issues, Mutua said the only race MCC will not have a candidate in 2017 polls is the presidential race.

He said his movement is neither Jubilee nor CORD but will identify a credible, development-conscious presidential candidate to support in the election. He however said so far, President Uhuru Kenyatta presents the only credible choice.

“For us, time is out of joint. We have rolled our sleeves and we are not even waiting for 2017. We cannot play games any longer. We are giving notice in good time to conservative politicians. With MCC on the cards, they are living on borrowed time,” Mutua said.

He said MCC’s strategy is to change the order of doing politics in the country from “top to bottom” into “bottom to top” approach. In the process, he alluded to a bigger role for MCC in 2022 elections.

“If you are a player and you have never scored in the local league despite the many years you have played, how can we trust you to score for us in the national league? And so for us, with what we are doing and with the support of the people, we are looking at a bright future,” he said.

From his recent tours selling “chap chap” in various parts of the country, Mutua says there is palpable sense of desperation among Kenyans. They are tired of rhetoric, empty promises, delayed opportunities and false hopes.

He said MCC’s strategy is to focus on quick-wins, the basics. He said it is possible to realise the basic needs of the residents with prudent management of resources, striking the correct work ethics and focusing on greater good for the greatest majority.

“The biggest sign of corruption is lack of development. Conversely, most developed areas have zero tolerance for corruption. We have managed to do so much in our county because we are exploiting every coin to the maximum and we are not suffering fools gladly,” he said.

He claimed he was being pursued by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for saving Machakos residents and Kenyans millions of shillings. He also claimed that this is what afflicts those who cannot wait to help the common man.

“The Kenyan system is not ready for true servant leadership. And that’s why they are coming after me. They are forgetting the horse has already bolted and that our people cannot wait any longer. Time is out of joint,” he reiterated.

No more Wiper

A few weeks ago, a court cleared the way for Mutua’s prosecution over procurement irregularities relating to purchase of second-hand vehicles for the county executives in 2013. Mutua maintains his innocence saying he does not do procurement but at the same time defends the decision as financially prudent.

He said he was done with Wiper for good and would not turn back: “Wiper has spent the last four years trying to destroy me despite me being a member. I do not see how I can ever work with Wiper. I do not trust its machinery that says one thing but does the other.”

Mutua said he was assured of re-election as governor and that he was not bothered by the array of candidates who have emerged to oppose him. Key among them is former Kathiani MP Wavinya Ndeti, East Africa Legislative Assembly MP Peter Mathuki and former EACC chair Mumo Matemu.

“We live in a democratic country and any person is welcome to vie for any seat,” he said of Matemu who is reportedly mulling running as an independent candidate.