How MCA survived UDA wave in Tharaka Nithi to bag Woman Rep position

Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki. [Phares Mutembei, Standard]

But Ms Ngugi who served as the Marimanti MCA in the last assembly chose to run for Woman rep instead of defending her seat and braved the UDA juggernaut, emerged victorious with 72, 749 votes by beating the UDA's Beatrice Kathomi, who garnered 68, 396.

Reminiscing the tough environment she operated in as she combed the 15 wards for votes against the UDA wave that had the financial muscle in its campaigns, she said it was not easy.

"My journey to winning the Woman rep seat was difficult. We had leaders who thought you must go through them to get leadership. I did not want to go that route. I stood with the electorate. But my friends and other family supported me," she said.

Ms Ngugi said with all the notable politicians aligning themselves with UDA, she had to fight hard to win the seat in TSP, formed by former CS Mwangi Kiunjuri.

"But though UDA and TSP are in Kenya Kwanza coalition, it was different in Tharaka Nithi because everybody was talking UDA, not Kenya Kwanza. There was no big politician campaigning for me. It was not easy so I had to work hard. Kiunjuri supported me," Ngugi said.

Former CS Mwangi Kiunjuri. [Boniface Gikandi, Standard]

The fact that she had no financial muscle to fight against the UDA juggernaut was a challenge.

"I was not at a big party but I believed in myself. The electorate also believed in me. In TSP we say it is about service to the people. The result was a big win which many people did not expect."

What made her run for Woman rep instead of seeking re-election as MCA?

"We have myriad challenges affecting the people. We have widows and orphans and being a mere MCA I have not opened doors when I visited NGO and other government offices, I decided to seek a Woman rep seat, to have more empowerment to assist the entire county."