Nakuru Town East Parliamentary seat candidate on Jubilee Party ticket Joel Maina Kairu has expressed optimism of clinching the seat.
Speaking to this writer over the weekend, Kairu stated that the electorates need change and he is up to the task.
The current Nakuru County speaker who also served as Chief Executive Committee Member for Roads in the first Nakuru County government says his record is very clear.
“I have been a CECM for Roads and now am the speaker and the record is very clear.I believe I am ready to serve the people of Nakuru Town East as their MP ” he said.
He added that under his leadership, challenges of Nakuru Town East will be addressed through women,youth and PWDs empowerment.
He has also vowed to increase Bursary allocation to Ksh10,000.
On matters security that has been a challenge in Nakuru East with emergence of Criminal gangs such as Confirm, the Jubilee candidate says he will work with security teams in ensuring enhanced security.
Kairu will be battling out with among others incumbent David Gikaria of UDA, Grace Karuga of KANU, Benson Mwangi(Independent) and Isa Okello of ODM.
A section of Jubilee supporters in Nakuru have expressed concern over uncoordinated support for campaign materials to candidates and supporters within the counties to effectively enhance their visibility and ease campaigns challenges.
Speaking in Kisulisuli when received some of the defectors from other parties, Nakuru county chair James Karimi said that it was high time the party extended sufficient support to the campaign to facilitate more and vigorous penetration of the zones mostly infiltrated by the Kenya Kwanza team.
“We want to tell the party to play their part in these campaigns, most of the candidates have no materials and thus it hampers the campaigns to overturn the opponents inroads”, he said.
Some of the women leaders said that despite having meetings with the party SG Jeremiah Kioni, nothing is forthcoming even as the time election gets to the wire.
Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama is among the few MPs who have dedicated their focus on development.
He believes the only way to transform lives of constituents is through ensuring improved infrastructure, fairness in the distribution of bursary as well as proper security for all.
Arama was elected on ODM ticket in 2013 before he ditched ODM and joined Jubilee.
Many thought he had dug his political grave, but due to his development record, he was elected for a second time in 2017 on a Jubilee ticked.
During his leadership, many development projects have been initiated.
He has always attributed the development to the good working relationship between him and President Uhuru Kenyatta and Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr.Fred Matiang’i.
Notable ones include the infrastructure in addition to the ones he lobbied through World Bank projects for slum areas.
The vocal Nakuru Legislastor has also ensured that all schools in the area have perimeter wall to avert land grabbing.
In addition, he has been able to sponsor several students both in Day and Boarding schools through the NG-CDF kitty.
During the COVID 19 pandemic, Arama was among the few MPs who came to rescue of many constituents through food donations.
And with the 2022 polls approaching, Arama has no doubt that his development record will see him clinch the seat for the third time.
Though not declared his political party that he will use, he has on several occasions asked his constituents to vote for leaders on the account of manifesto and development record and not their party.
He said he is confident he will be retain his seat in the 2022 polls.
“My development record in Nakuru Town West is very clear and that is my tool” he said.
Jubilee Party has vowed to ensure London Ward seat is retained.
Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju addressing during a meeting in London Ward,Nakuru West.PHOTO/Isaac.
Speaking in Nakuru on Saturday, Secretary General Raphael Tuju said that is the only way to ensure continued development agenda in the area.
“We have seen development in this area initiated by Jubilee and we shall see more after Njoroge’s victory on March 4” said Tuju.
The Jubilee SG also calling on London residents to ensure they stand with the Jubilee agenda of transformation.
In a short speech full of parables during a meeting hosted by Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama, Tuju said the London residents should not allow people who have no development record to come and steal the show in the area.
“Do not be deceived by people who have no development record for this area” said Tuju.
The meeting was also attended MPs Kanini Kega(Kieni),Babu Owino(Embakasi East),Maina Kamanda(Nominated),David Gikaria(Nakuru East), and George Aladwa(Makadara).
Others were former Rongai Parliamentary aspirant Kibet Komen, Beatrice Nyawira from Nakuru Governor’s office, Jubilee Nakuru Branch Secretary Mtumishi Cheruiyot as well as ODM Nakuru Branch Chairman Peter Ole Sono.
During the meeting Ole Sono declared that ODM will be supporting the Jubilee candidates for the London Ward seat as well as Hells Gate.
The London Ward seat fell vacant following the death of the then Jubilee MCA Sammy Mbugua while Hells Gate seat fell vacant following the death of MCA John Njuguna.
Jubilee has settled for Francis Njoroge (London) and Virginia Gicanga(Hells Gate.
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) associated with Deputy President William Ruto has also fielded Anthony Wachira Nzuki for London Ward and Jonathan Warothe for Hells Gate.
A great battle between the ruling Jubilee and United Democratic Alliance (UDA) expected to be witnessed in the March 4 by-elections in the two wards of Nakuru.
Jubilee will be struggling to retain the seat while DP Ruto’s allied formation UDA will be in the race to test the political strength of the new political formation.
Besides Jubilee and UDA, several other candidates are also in the race on independent ticket.
Joseph Kimani Njuguna will fly the KANU ticket,Bernard Kariuki(People’s Democratic Party), Rebecca Moraa(Thirdway Alliance),Felix Kipruto(People’s Party of Kenya) and Joseph Kariuki of the Service Party(TSP).
Kabazi MCA Dr.Peter Mbae has dissociated with the demand by Nakuru Jubilee Party Chairman David Manyara to recall Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri.
In a statement to newsrooms just minutes after Manyara made the demand,Dr.Mbae has termed Manyara’s sentiments personal opinion.
He says the demand is far from the resolution they had in a meeting whose sole agenda was to react to remarks made by MPs Oscar Sudi(Kapseret) and Johanna Ng’eno (Emurua Dikiir).
“I wish to respectfully dissociate myself from the demand by Nakuru Jubilee Chair to recall Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri. That was a personal opinion and was not a resolution agreed upon by the earlier meeting I was whose sole agenda was to react to remarks by MPs Ng’eno and Sudi” Said Mbae.
He added that leaders need to resist mixing up issues and taking advantage of incidences to whip unrelated issues as this will end up confusing Kenyans and lose the real message in the midst.
Dr.Mbae who has a background in matters conflict, peace and reconciliation Studies says,what the MPs did was morally, culturally and legally wrong just as what Murathe and CS Tobiko did. The President and DP are sacred by law and the Godly anointing, they must be respected. The rest of us are small people and can’t purport to be defending the two against each other.”
The vocal Nakuru MCA has urged CS Keriako Tobiko and Murathe to immediately withdraw their remarks and the two MPs to apologise to the First Lady, women and Kenyans at large.
Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama is the first person from Abagusii community alongside Dagoreti’s Simba Arati to be elected to parliament from a cosmopolitan area.
Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama at a past media address.PHOTO/Pristone Mambili.
Arama was elected in 2013 as Nakuru Town West MP on an ODM ticket.
He however hit headlines when he ditched ODM for Jubilee citing harrasment from ODM.
“I cannot work with dictators.I will join like-minded people” he said at the time he was joining Jubilee.
In 2017,he won the seat on Jubilee ticket after ODM fielded many candidates.
Arama who has maitained that his key role is service to the people has made strides in the education sector through bursary to various needy students.
He has also embarked on process to ensure that all schools in the area through the NG-CDF kitty have better infrastructure.
The World Bank-sponsored informal settlement upgrade project has also added him mileage as most roads in Nakuru West are now tarmacked with a well drainage in place.
On security matters,the Legislator has ensured establishment of police posts besides the construction of Kaptembwa Police station.
His development-focused has seen electorates brand him ‘Super MP’.
Simon Ole Nasieku from Nakuru Benchmarking team says the MP has shown true leadership is all about service to the people.
“Arama has shown what leadership is all about,development ” said Nasieku.
Early this year,the MP was in headlines over a move to have busaa legalized.
The MP sought to ammend the Alcoholic Drinks and control Act No.4 of 2010 to legalize busaa.
“Busaa does not contain high levels of ethanol and does not risk lives of consumers” he said.
According to the Legislator,the move would create employment to the youths as well as offer Kenyans a cheaper local beverage.
Despite many critics,Arama has always maitained that he speaks his mind.
He is also known to be a no-no sense person especially when you step on his toes.
“I am one person who will tell you face on when things are wrong” he said.
His good relation with locals is witnessed even on social media platforms where is an active member responding to issues affecting the citizens.
Arama is one of the Leaders who does not sit and watch as locals suffer.
When COVID-19 struck,he mobilized for resources and commenced distribution of relief food to vulnerable families in his constituency among them private schools teachers.
He said he sought funds from friends among them Interior CS Dr.Fred Matiang’i.
“This food is not part of the NG-CDF but a contribution from my friends as well as personal contribution” he said.
Recently when the floods caused havoc in some parts of Nakuru West,the MP sought a ministerial statement in parliement on how the affected families would be compensated.
Though a Kisii,Arama says his service as a Legislator is to ensure all the communities in his constituecy are satisfied.
“I cannot favour Kisii community simply because I am one.Nakuru West is not a Kisii land but cosmoplitant and I have to reach to all” he said in one of the media briefs.
Despite facing criticisms from his competitors,MP Arama maintains that his developemt record is clear.
The close ally of Interior CS Dr.Fred Matiang’i believes political leadership is about transforming lives of electorates.
Recently he met over 30 MCAs from Kisii region in a Nakuru hotel and they vowed to rally their support behind the two(CS Matiang’i and Arama) towards 2022 succession politics.
Kenyans are not interested in handshake or Building Bridges initiative but service at grassroot-Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika has stated.
Addressing media in Nakuru, Kihika said despite the many wrangles facing Jubilee Party and administration, the Jubilee elected leaders have a legacy to leave behind, that of service to the people.
“Regardless of the many problems here and there within Jubilee Party, there must be a legacy of some kind and that is to ensure our counties have equitable allocation for service delivery” said Kihika.
Senator Kihika argues that the ongoing disputes in Jubilee and even much focus on BBI or handshake is nothing if the citizens will not realize development at grassroot level.
She says if there is equitable national revenue allocation to counties, then no much consideration will be on who sits in the Presidency as Kenyans at grassroot will be satisfied with the resources and services.
Kihika has vowed to continue pushing in ensuring that there is equity in national revenue allocation to counties.
Bahati MP Onesmus Kimani Ngunjiri has called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to convene a Party meeting with Jubilee MPs before the suspected reshuffles in the party leadership at the National Assembly.
Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri at a past media address in Nakuru. [PHOTO/Pristone Mambili]Ngunjiri says the PG might be the cure to the current Jubilee Party divisions.
Speaking in Nakuru, Ngujiri said that before making changes similar to the ones that were done at the senate, President Kenyatta should tell the Jubilee MPs the main reasons for the party wrangles and the reason behind his political break up with his Deputy President Dr. William Ruto.
“We are calling on President who is also the party leader to convene a party meeting with all Jubilee MPs before the reshuffle that is coming soon on party leadership at the National assembly. This will help solve some of the problems”said Ngunjiri.
This even as Ngunjiri accused the Senate house over the ouster of Meru Senator Kithure Kindiki as the Deputy Speaker.
He has termed as acrimination mode of voting that was used instead of the electronic mode that both National and senate assemblies have been using.
The legislator has said that corruption might have been involved to ouster the Meru Lawmaker from his position saying the said acrimination was used for senators to please corrupt forces that were behind to influence the ouster of Kindiki.
