Second time lucky for Kanini Secondina in county

Newly nominated MCA Secondina Kanini outside her house. Ms Kanini who belongs to Jubilee Party has been nominated by the little known Kenya Patriots Party.[Phares Mutembei, Standard]

A politician allied to Governor Kiraitu Murungi has made a return to the county assembly as a nominated MCA for the second time.

Secondina Kanini, who made her political debut as a nominated councillor in the Meru County Council in 2007, will be replacing Lucy Waithera who resigned on February 12 citing personal reasons.

Name deleted

Last Friday, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman Wafula Chebukati confirmed that Ms Waithera’s name has been deleted as Kenya Patriots Party (KPP) nominee. 

Ms Kanini is now KPP’s nominee in the assembly. The comeback of Kanini, a key ally of Mr Kiraitu, has surprised many.

This is because she has previously been associated with Jubilee Party. She served as a Jubilee nominated MCA in the last assembly.

KPP, a party associated with senator Mithika Linturi, managed to have six MCAs elected in the last elections.

Questions raised 

Yesterday, Ms Kanini countered those questioning her nomination, saying KPP is a Jubilee affiliate party and there should be no issue if she gets nominated by it.

“My main business in the assembly will be to help Kiraitu make Meru great. I will also lobby for just causes for my people,” Kanini said on phone.

KPP nominations in Meru have always been shrouded in controversy. In 2017, the party was accused of having nominated individuals who were previously unknown in Meru.

Those nominated were Lucy Waithera, Philip Abubakar Oluoch and Jane Wambui. The party elected MCAs are Kinyua Turibu (Muthara), Elias Murega (Municipality), Martin Mworia (Nyaki West), Peter Mutuma (Ruiri Rwalera), Isaiah Kanyaru (Njia) and George Muthuri (Maua).