Epic battle in Starehe as three celebrities tussle over seat

Starehe Jubilee parliamentary aspirant Charles Njagua"Jaguar" addresses the media after he was declared the winner at Jubilee Head quarters, Nairobi on Wednesday 03/05/17.PHOTO.BONIFACE OKENDO

Starehe has the youngest and most flamboyant aspirants than any other constituency in Nairobi.

It is a battle involving Steve Mbogo of ODM, Boniface Mwangi of Ukweli party and Jubilee Party’s Charles Njagua aka Jaguar.

Starehe voters are spoilt for choice with respect to the three who bring their stardom alongside their party loyalties. While Mbogo has a cut a niche as a businessman - with interest in mining and real estate - Mwangi, is a renowned activist who has had a fair share of run-ins with the police. Jaguar on the other hand is a celebrity musician with close ties to State House.

Yet, despite their celebrity status, the three seem to have chosen a guerilla-like campaign strategy.

They are not loud in public, but are present in social media and engage in door-to-door campaigns save for Mbogo who at times is seen in public rallies.

Jaguar has been more quiet and hardly visible on the campaign trail save for some posters and a few billboards, fuelling rumours that he might not have received funds from Jubilee Party.

Very little has been seen of Jaguar following his nomination battle with Maina Kamanda.

Social media

“Jaguar is a talented musician and he should stick to music,” said Mwangi during a recent interview on KTN and challenged Mbogo to state how many people he has employed as a businessman.

He was responding to Mbogo who had called him ‘a heckler, while appearing on the same television programme.

Mbogo and Mwangi are very active on social media with the former releasing videos online and on Facebook as well as Twitter and WhatsApp groups.

Mbogo has published his manifesto on his Facebook page. He has also been holding rallies and meetings with women and youth groups in the area.

Mwangi has also taken to social media to reach out to the constituents.

“Many youths in Starehe are jobless and that is why I ask them to own this campaign with the little they can,” says Mwangi in a video released to his followers.

Last week, he raised Sh700,000 within just three days and he aims to raise Sh10 million for his campaigns.

“Kenyans, we are changing our politics. In just three days you have raised over 700k! Send me to bunge. Make the change happen. Keep contributing,” read his post on social media.