Nakuru battle hots up as Mututho, Mbugua trade ‘early punches’

The unending frontal assault pitting Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua and National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) boss John Mututho could be the beginning of what promises to be a titanic battle for the county’s top job.

So far, at least four politicians have hinted that they are interested in moving into the governor’s mansion come August 2017. But pundits are of the view that the NACADA boss and Mbugua are the main players to watch – at least for now.

National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) chairman Lee Kinyanjui, Nakuru Senator James Mungai and Transition Authority (TA) boss Kinuthia Wamwangi, are some of the politicians said to be eyeing the governor’s seat.

Mbugua recently blasted Mututho for allegedly failing to control drug use among teens, following the fatal accident that claimed the lives of five teenagers in Nakuru on the eve of New Year.

In what could be interpreted as a dress rehearsal for the 2017 campaigns, the governor charged that the former Naivasha MP had failed and does not deserve to hold public office. On the other hand, Mututho has challenged the county boss for a public debate to allegedly expose the rot in the former AP Commandant’s administration. He claims that Mbugua has no single project to his name.

Moi University lecturer and political analyst Dr Masibo Lumala says a number of factors will come to play regarding who will eventually become the governor of the county which has 11 constituencies.

Dr Lumala says the outcome of Deputy President William Ruto’s case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) will determine the relationship between the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities, and consequently shape the direction of the race. “Whether the Kalenjin community will remain in partnership with the Kikuyu community will depend on what happens at the ICC and beyond.”

Dr Lumala opines that should the two communities unite during the elections, selling a popular Kikuyu candidate would guarantee a landslide win since a majority of people in the county are from the community. “The fact that Nakuru is in South Rift, where Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto comes from, makes it delicate for one to conclusively say the seat will be won by a Kikuyu or somebody from the Jubilee side,” says Dr Lumala, adding that Governor Ruto could embarrass President Kenyatta and DP Ruto in the event that Jubilee Alliance Party fails to conduct credible and fair party primaries and the popular candidate gets the backing of the rebel governor.

Although some governors have disappointed their electorate, Dr Lumala says the power of the incumbency could work in favour of Mbugua. “A good number of governors will end up being re-elected because they will use public resources for their campaigns,” he says. But he is quick to add that among all the candidates, Mututho stands a better chance. “Mututho has proved that he stands for something, and that makes a lot of sense. He has also made it clear that he can make things to be done,” says Dr Lumula.
On Mr Kinyanjui, he says: “He is a good leader, but what has he been up to. He is no longer in the limelight. This may work against him. People hear little from Nakuru in terms of development and his opponents can ride on this, perhaps because of poor communication strategy,” he observes.

But Governor Mbugua is already laying ground to build on and will seek re-election on the premise that he needs to continue consolidating what he has already started. He says much has been achieved under his leadership in the last three years and it would only be prudent for the electorate to hand him another term as to complete some of his development initiatives. Mbugua says he has a visible development track record on virtually every sector: “Every year, each of the 55 wards in Nakuru receives Sh25 million for development and Sh2 million for bursaries. In addition, there will be allocations to cater for youth activities and the disabled,” says the county boss.

In an interview with The Nairobian, the NACADA boss, pocked holes in the self-appraisal by the governor, and said there was nothing to write home about under Mbugua’s administration.

“Mbugua does not deserve to continue being Nakuru County Governor because he has failed to manage the county’s resources,” says Mututho, who claims that cholera is now a permanent risk in Naivasha, Nakuru and Gilgil due to the mismanagement of the health sector and poor sanitation in the county.

“When Nakuru people elected him, they thought he was a good manager. But from the audit queries, it’s clear the electorate will not make the mistake of re-electing him,” he adds.

He accuses the governor of relocating over 10,000 hawkers without engaging the small traders and says: “Now the hawkers are waiting to vote for Mututho come 2017, and they are ready to suffer for the remaining one year under Mbugua’s administration.”  

Senator Mungai, when asked whether he would contest, said it was too early to make such decision. “The elections are still over a year a way, and it would be premature if we start engaging in politics at the moment,” he said, adding that, “I will make the decision when we get to 2017.”