Controversy ranges as a hot campaign for Nakuru County seats kicks off

AP boss Kinuthia Mbugua, below, has been challenged by Naivasha MP John Mututho to resign and campaign as politics in Nakuru County gets hot.

 

BY BERNARD WAWERU

A hot campaign in the Nakuru County has set off in earnest for the devolved county representation enshrined in the new Constitution come 2012.

  Controversy has crowded with several political heavyweights who have expressed interest in the race for governor lashing at each other in public as they transverse the flourishing county for support.

  Naivasha MP John Mututho have warned Central Kenya MPs roaming in Nakuru against endorsing a candidate for the Nakuru County governorship adding that voters should be left to make informed decision come the next election.

  Mututho urged AP Commandant Kinuthia Mbugua to retire and engage in competitive politics adding that all civil servants interested in elective positions should resign from holding public offices.

  But supporters of Mbugua speaking in Nakuru asked the AP boss to stay put adding that no amount of intimidation will eject him from his candidature for the top seat in Nakuru.

  “He has been listening to our voices and assisting the needy in our community. He leaves his busy schedule to worship, mourn and cry with us. Whether he retires or quit his job in the AP force we shall throw our weight behind him said a councilor in Molo.

  Mututho lashed at former Defense Minister Njenga Karume for scheming political meeting in Nakuru and Molo adding that Kikuyu outside Central Province will chart their own political destiny without interference from wealthy politicians.

  A part from Central and Nairobi politicians, professional and business people campaigning for governorship and senate support in Nakuru County, another invisible political schemer in Nakuru is former President Daniel Moi.

  Several Interested contender in Nakuru County are said to be visiting Moi’s home in Kabarak with some Kikuyu political heavy weight extending hands for Moi wooing him to deliver the Kalenjin vote into their baskets.

  Moi whose influence is

scattered in several counties among them Baringo, Nandi, Kericho, Bomet, Uasin Gishu, Marakwet and Transnzoia is an influential and a wealthy resident of Nakuru capable of influencing the political destiny of the tourist cum agricultural county in Rift Valley.

  The tribal arithmetics in the Nakuru county politics have set an interesting stage with some leaders calling for equal share of positions in the county representation to encourage peace and harmony in the cosmopolitan county.

  “The peace within the Kikuyu, Kalenjin and Kisii communities living in Nakuru will be fostered or destroyed by the next election. The equation on the influential seats of the governor, deputy governor, the senator and the county representative will affect business and peaceful coexistence in Nakuru,” added Alex Tum.

  He said peace will be attained if all communities are represented in the county government adding that the task force on the devolution chaired by Moi University law lecturer Mutakha Kangu by allocating 90 County Assembly representatives stirred competitive politics for the bloated seats .

  According to the task force Nakuru, which is the fourth largest county in the country will have eleven constituencies from the current six represented by Lee Kinyajui (Nakuru), John Mututho (Naivasha), Joseph Kiuna (Molo), Zakayo Cheruiyot (Kuresoi), Luka Kigen (Rongai) and Nelson Gaichuhie (Subukia).