The race to succeed Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi continues to intensify with eight political heavyweights already showing interest in the seat. The latest entrant is Mr George Maara.
The contest is shaping up to be a four-party affair involving Jubilee Party, Chama Cha Kazi, United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Tuijbebe Party.
Mr Maara, who three times unsuccessfully contested for Limuru parliamentary seat, said he will clinch the seat come August 9 elections.
He will be fighting it out with Mr John Mugwe, a director of the delivery unit in Governor James Nyoro's administration, and Beth Wangui, who initially ran for the position on a TNA ticket in 2013 but lost to Mr Wamatangi.
Other aspirants include Kiambu County Assembly Speaker Stephen Ndicho who has dropped his gubernatorial bid for senatorial seat and former Ngewa MCA Karungo wa Thangwa. The two will fight it out for Deputy President William Ruto’s UDA ticket.
Also in the race is former Kiambu Assembly Speaker and Tujibebe Party Secretary-General Irungu Gathii, Machel Waikenda and former Sigona MCA Mutonya Njenga who will be vying on Moses Kuria’s Chama Cha Kazi party.
“I had reached a point where I had said that I would never commit myself to politics again. But I am glad to say that I am back and I want to be the next senator for Kiambu under the Jubilee Party,” announced Mr Maara.
While launching his bid on Monday at a Kiambu hotel, the businessman asked the county residents to nominate him during next month’s primaries saying he will strive to ensure that there is accountability on the use of public resources in Kiambu.
“I want to go and fight for more allocations and I plead with you to nominate me as the Jubilee Party flag bearer during the nominations and elect me during the August polls,’’ he said.
The Auditor-General has been raising queries on how Kiambu County has been using resources allocated to them.
In the financial year ended June 30, 2020, the county was accused of spending Sh19.5 million on airtime as well as Sh1.69 million in buying 11 phones while another Sh1.1 million was paid out as 'lunch' to people who could not be traced.
If successful in the UDA nominations, Mr Thangwa will be making a second stab at the seat after losing to Mr Wamatangi in the 2017 polls.
For Mr Waikenda, this will be his political debut after serving in Mr Kabogo’s administration as the Kiambu County youth executive. He also worked for the TNA party as a communication strategist.
Mr Gathii, who served as the second speaker after the impeachment of Nick Ndichu, will be making his second bid for the seat after unsuccessfully vying in 2017. In 2013, he sought to be elected as Ruiru MP but lost to Esther Gathogo.
