Profile of enigmatic character

By MUTINDA MWANZIA

The election of John Harun Mwau as the MP for Kilome in 2007 sent shockwaves throughout Ukambani due to his moneyed campaign and his flamboyance.

‘The boss’, as Mwau is referred to in political circles in Ukambani, beat ODM-Kenya’s candidate Mutinda Mutiso to clinch the seat on a Party of Independent Candidates of Kenya (PICK) ticket.

And The Boss through his deep pockets, pledged to transform Kilome into a model constituency through various development projects.

Once elected, Mwau was later named Assistant Minister for Transport by his ally Prime Minister Raila.

Mwau early this year "stepped aside" as an assistant minister after his name was mentioned in Parliament in connection with drug trafficking.

Mwau’s range of businesses includes electronic wholesaling, warehousing and inland container depots.

His Pepe Inland Container Depot in Athi River and his links to the Nakumatt chain of supermarkets are probably the only known business ventures linked to the tycoon.

The motto of his political outfit, PICK is: Think, Work, and Grow Rich.

Mwau is not new to politics contested and lost the Presidency and the Westlands Parliamentary seat in 1992.

Undaunted, Mwau filed a curious petition against retired President Moi’s victory. Mwau argued that he should be made President on the grounds that all the other candidates had used paper other than foolscap to present their nominations.

The case was dismissed, but the court lavished Mwau with praise for his tenacity, resilience and stickler for detail.

By-election

But Mwa

Keywords: Harun Mwau; richess

Profile of enigmatic character

By MUTINDA MWANZIA

The election of John Harun Mwau as the MP for Kilome in 2007 sent shockwaves throughout Ukambani due to his moneyed campaign and his flamboyance.

‘The boss’, as Mwau is referred to in political circles in Ukambani, beat ODM-Kenya’s candidate Mutinda Mutiso to clinch the seat on a Party of Independent Candidates of Kenya (PICK) ticket.

And The Boss through his deep pockets, pledged to transform Kilome into a model constituency through various development projects.

Once elected, Mwau was later named Assistant Minister for Transport by his ally Prime Minister Raila.

Mwau early this year "stepped aside" as an assistant minister after his name was mentioned in Parliament in connection with drug trafficking.

Mwau’s range of businesses includes electronic wholesaling, warehousing and inland container depots.

His Pepe Inland Container Depot in Athi River and his links to the Nakumatt chain of supermarkets are probably the only known business ventures linked to the tycoon.

The motto of his political outfit, PICK is: Think, Work, and Grow Rich.

Mwau is not new to politics contested and lost the Presidency and the Westlands Parliamentary seat in 1992.

Undaunted, Mwau filed a curious petition against retired President Moi’s victory. Mwau argued that he should be made President on the grounds that all the other candidates had used paper other than foolscap to present their nominations.

The case was dismissed, but the court lavished Mwau with praise for his tenacity, resilience and stickler for detail.

By-election

But Mwau’s political weight and might was felt in a by-election occasioned by the murder of MP, Tony Ndilinge, in November 2001.

Mwau’s party put in place a well-oiled campaign team. The Pick candidate, Kioko Mulandi, came an impressive second behind Mutiso.

In November 1997, Mwau declared he was no longer interested in politics.Under just a month later, Moi appointed him as the head of the then newly created Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority.

But he was removed from office following recommendations by a tribunal formed to investigate his conduct.

But Mwau was back in active politics in 2001. A merger between the then Raila-led National Development Party and Kanu in March 2002 saw Mwau’s Pick join in.

He was elected one of the four regional Kanu Vice-Chairmen in October.

u’s political weight and might was felt in a by-election occasioned by the murder of MP, Tony Ndilinge, in November 2001.

Mwau’s party put in place a well-oiled campaign team. The Pick candidate, Kioko Mulandi, came an impressive second behind Mutiso.

In November 1997, Mwau declared he was no longer interested in politics.Under just a month later, Moi appointed him as the head of the then newly created Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority.

But he was removed from office following recommendations by a tribunal formed to investigate his conduct.

But Mwau was back in active politics in 2001. A merger between the then Raila-led National Development Party and Kanu in March 2002 saw Mwau’s Pick join in.

He was elected one of the four regional Kanu Vice-Chairmen in October.