Nyeri, Nyandarua deputy governorship aspirants show their mettle

A file picture combination of Cecilia Mbuthia (right) and Njeri Muhara (left). PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

She speaks with passion and energy, when she begins to talk about agriculture and food security.

It is the same passion that Njeri Njoori Muhara employs when she details plans on enterprise development and infrastructure for Nyeri should residents give her the opportunity to be at the helm of the County’s leadership come August 8.

Ms Muhara, who holds a degree in food science and a master’s degree in marketing from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, is the running mate of Patrick Munene Kairu, Nyeri County’s Democratic Party governorship candidate.

Democratic Party chairman Esau Kioni (right) joins Nyeri county gubernatorial candidate Patrick Munene when he unveiled his running mate Njeri Muhara (centre). PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Their age difference does not in any way appear to be an issue for them or their supporters, and they rhyme so well both in plans and policies they have lined up for the county should they be elected, they would give priority to transforming the agricultural sector, which is Nyeri’s bedrock.

The 36-year old Kairu, an entrepreneur in the hospitality industry and son of former Kieni MP Munene Kairu heaps praise on his 50-year old running-mate, saying he chose her because of her interest and passion in the agricultural sector as well as other issues of gender and special interest groups.

“My choice of Ms Muhara was also driven by the fact that I wanted a leader who we shall work together with in implementing sound public policy that would ensure the voice of the youth, women, people with disabilities and disadvantaged groups in our society is heard,” he explained while heaping praises on her.

GENDER BALANCE

She would also ensure gender balance in his governorship bid and administration should they win the coveted seat  in next month’s General Election, he added.

“It took me three months searching for a credible running mate. Women must be included in leadership because we need transformation,” says Mr Kairu who in 2013 was a running-mate of his now Jubilee Party rival Wahome Gakuru .

On being chosen as the DP’s candidate governorship running-mate,  Ms Muhara said their priority would be to transform the agricultural sector and improve the county’s economy which she says has been on the down because of a leadership that is not focused.

“We are an energetic pair with integrity and free of corruption blemish, says Ms Muhara, a former director at Kenya Dairy Board and Quality Assurance at the Mount Kenya Bottlers.

“There is a political revolution and Nyeri will not be left behind. We will turn around the wealth of Nyeri including in the tourism sector,” she adds.

The two have attributed under-development in the county to “bad leadership and runaway corruption,’’ have  been criss-crossing the county, selling their policies to the counties 460,000 registered voters, and are confident of emerging victorious. 

PEACE MESSAGES

“I settled on Ms Muhara  because of her  experience in value addition of agricultural products,” Mr Kairu said of her running mate, in a conversation with the Nation in his Ring Road Estate in Nyeri town.

Ms Muhara hails from Ngaiini village in the vote rich Mathira constituency, from  where she practices Macadamia farming which she processes and packs at her industry in Thika.

The deputy governorship aspirant says should they unseat Governor Samuel Wamathai who is defending the his seat as an independent candidate, they would dedicate 40 per cent of the devolved government positions and contracts to young people and women.

In Nyandarua County, Jubilee Party’s governorship candidate Francis Kimemia has settled on Cecilia Mbuthia as his running mate.

Ms Mbuthia, a Kenyatta University graduate and new comer to politics is focused among other things in delivering the women’s vote to the campaign and given that she comes from the vote rich Kinangop constituency with 109, 241 registered voters.

The soft-spoken running mate of Mr Kimemia, a former powerful head of public service and secretary to President Mwai Kibaki’s administration, has been sending a key message of peace and unity, during the campaigns for next month’s elections.

Cecilia Mbuthia addresses resident at Olkalou town during a rally on June 12, 2017. PHOTO | JOHN GITHINJI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

"Lets us maintain peace, we must make peace our priority. Peace is important not only for politicians but also for voters," rings Ms Mbuthia’s message at all her campaign forums.

At a recent peace forum at Catholic Hall in Ol Kalou town, she  pleaded with politicians to peg their campaigns on issues, not insults and provocative language or incitement that can divide the people of Nyandarua.

"It is important for us to ensure peaceful elections without having one of our people injured, ”pleaded Ms Mbuthia who resigned from the United Nations to join politics.

Born in 1968, the deputy governor aspirant has also been enjoying the support of her husband Evanson Mbuthia who has been a common feature in most of her campaign forums.

She promises to use her international connections to bring development and investors to Nyandarua County.