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Fight for Kiharu, place associated with struggle for multi-party democracy

 

Current Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro alongside a section of Tangatanga MPs during a past press conference at Parliament buildings in Nairobi. [David Njaaga, Standard]

Kiharu parliamentary race will be an interesting one to watch, especially how candidates allied to the leading presidential candidates will perform.

The aspirants allied to Raila Odinga, through Azimio la Umoja, and those on the Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) side, and Governor Mwangi wa Iria of Usawa kwa Wote, will face off ahead of the August polls.

The constituency has the sub-counties of Murang’a East and Kahuro, with 111,260 registered voters.

It is also home to Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria, who is eying the presidency, former Water and Irrigation Principal Secretary Joseph Wairagu wa Maii, and Senator Irungu Kang’ata among other prominent leaders.

The constituency witnessed the battle for Murang’a County supremacy in the 1980s and 1990s, as Kenneth Matiba, Gikonyo Kiano and Joseph Kamotho fought to claim control.

Kamotho, in the battle, supported Kiano to sabotage Matiba’s political career. Matiba, on the other hand, frustrated the Wangu Water Project, where pipes worth thousands of shillings remained unused for years until recently when it was revived by Athi Water Works Development Agency.

The Gaturi water project started by Matiba also flopped and was revived by Gatamathi Water and Sanitation Company to serve the people in the lower Kiharu.

Concerns in the constituency are acute water shortage, poor coffee and tea prices, followed by massive soil erosion in the lower parts, owing to increased sand harvesting and quarry mining activities.

The constituency has been among those expected to be split, considering a large number of voters in Kahuro and Murang’a East sub-counties.

The poor state of coffee factories, which have old machines, has led to high cost of production. The dairy sector is doing better, but farmers want lower cost of production.

The incomplete Murang’a-Kiriaini road remains a challenge, with hundreds of motorists using the longer Kangema-Murang’a and St Mary Gitugi routes to avoid the potholed sections of Mugeka-Kiriaini.

The candidates in the race against the incumbent MP Ndindi Nyoro are Judy Makira, a member of Murang’a Municipal Board and a lecturer at Embu University, Kiama Muturi, a son to former MP BC Muturi Mwangi, and Karanja Mburu Wamatangi, a board member at Lapsset.

Also in the race are Captain Dennis Maina, 31, a pilot, who says he will work towards initiating programmes that will benefit locals.

“Being the youngest in the race, I know it pains for the youth to plead  for programmes from the leaders. Now it is our chance,” says Mr Maina.

Kiharu MP aspirants from left: Karanja Mburu Wamatangi, Dr Judy Makira and Kiama Muturi [Courtesy]

As Nyoro will be running on UDA, while Azimio candidates remain Mr Kiama and Tony Kamutu, others have options. Makira is vying on Usawa Kwa Wote Party that is allied to Governor Mwangi wa Iria.

Dr Makira is the only woman vying for the parliamentary seat. She says her focus will be on economic empowerment, as she has been working with the youth on digital empowerment. The youth are aware of online opportunities and initiating rabbit, poultry, goat rearing programmes among others.

“Education standards in the constituency are a pale shadow of what it was between the 1970s and 1990s. As an educator I am confident that I have what is required to uplift the standards to return to the days of Matiba and Kiano,” said Makira.

Wamatangi, who will be in the race for a second time, says his agenda revolves around working with the community and supporting needy persons. “I have been working with learning institutions, community in water and sanitation programmes and I’m still committed to take Kiharu strides high,” said Wamatangi, a project coordinator with the US-based Can Do Kids International in projects with Sh170 million.

Since 2015, Wamatangi has been supplying foodstuff to candidates in primary schools in the constituency. He has poured cold water on Nyoro’s school rehabilitation programme, calling it a sham.

“Some of the roofs are leaking yet the NG-CDF could have provided new roofing while fixing of the tiles is poor. There is a need to work and ensure there is value for money in the public projects,” said Wamatangi.

Nyoro says he has done a lot for the constituency, including improving programmes touching on education of the children and rehabilitating schools.

In the first term, he said, he lobbied for tarmacking of more roads within the constituency, including the proposed Kenneth Matiba Road connecting Maragi and Nyoka Nyoka road in Kahuro.

“More importantly is that the public schools that were abandoned for years have a few faces and I encourage learners to concentrate on their studies,” said Ndindi.