Comrade Power: These ex-students will be making laws in Parliament

John Paul Mwirigi is the young man everyone is talking about. Yes, the 24-year-old in ‘a gray sweater’ who beat experienced and moneyed politicians such as Jubilee’s Rufus Miriti, PNU’s Mzalendo Mwenda, MCC’s Mutuma Kibai, and DP’s Raphael Muringi, to clinch the Igembe South parliamentary seat as an independent candidate.


Mwirigi, an education student from MKU had no silver or gold, and while his opponents were dishing out cash, he moved from door to door on his bicycle armed only with his manifesto and plans for Igembe South.

“I am always with my people and they know the struggle l have gone through for the prosperity of our society and that’s why they chose me. The people of Igembe were wise to choose someone who has their interest at heart and that is me,” he told Campus Vibe.

Coming from a poor background, Mwirigi has done odd jobs, such as operating a boda bodas in Maua town to supplement his income. He has also worked as a casual labourer in tea factories in his home area for Sh350 a day.

Meanwhile, in Embakasi East, outspoken and former Students’ Organisation of Nairobi University (SONU) chairman, Babu Owino, beat Jubilee’s Francis Mureithi to clinch the parliamentary seat.


A few days to the elections, a video surfaced of Mureithi dishing out unga to residents of Embakasi East. His ‘kind’ gesture was not enough to secure him victory as Babu Owino was the choice of voters.

Elsewhere, in little-known Lumakanda Ward in Kakamega County, 23-year-old Leyla Muhandale - also an independent candidate - is the new Member of County Assembly.

Leyla is an economics and statistics graduate from the University of Nairobi.