At 23, Igembe South MP John Paul Mwirigi had moved from the relative obscurity of village life to overnight stardom and a place in Kenya’s history books as one of the youngest ever elected MPs. 

But his name fizzled out as soon as the political euphoria in the country died. As fast as he had appeared in public limelight, he disappeared, his disappearance an anti-climax from his much-hyped victory in the 2017 election.

His constituents celebrated the wind of change he represented. In him, they saw the sparks of a revolution, the start of a new order not only in Igembe South, but in the entire county.

But talks of his arrogance started sneaking into conversations a few months after he was sworn into office.