Irungu Nyakera, Equatorial Nut boss Moses Mwangi among candidates fronted to succeed Wa Iria

The race to succeed incumbent Murang’a governor Mwangi Wa Iria has been drawn as more than eight aspirants have shown interest to occupy his office.

In what is promising to be a heated contest, the seat has attracted seasoned politicians, former and current top government officials and business tycoons.

The governor has declared interest in the presidency through his Usawa Kwa Wote party.

Among those who have declared interests include former Senator Kembi Gitura, former Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau, Equatorial nut CEO Dr Moses Mwangi as well as Women Representative Sabina Chege.

Others include area Senator Irungu Kang’ata, Water PS Irungu Wairagu, former devolution PS Irungu Nyakera among others.

Murang’a politics is being controlled by two blocks mainly Murang’a North where Wa Iria, Sabina Chege and Irungu Kang’ata hail and Murang’a South that failed to capture any top seat in the 2017 general election.

Speaking in Murang’a last month, the Woman Rep Sabina Chege asked area residents to support her bid saying she is ready to deliver on her mandate as the county chief if elected.

“I will be vying for the Governorship of Murang’a and I pray that the people of Murang’a will support me. It is not because I am the best but it is through God’s grace that I believe I will be able to transform Murang’a,” she said.

Moses Mwangi in a past interview said that the race will be controlled by several factors among them county blocks that influence voting patterns.

Mwangi who has vied unsuccessfully since 2013 said the people of Murang’a will have to keep their eyes wide open to avoid being misled by power brokers.

He maintained that he is the best candidate to succeed Wa Iria as he holds the best CV among other candidates who have declared interests.

He claimed that his stint at various organizations has helped him develop top leadership skills that may help to transform the County development records.

“I still hold the vision I had from 2013 to date to my great people of Murang’a and I know they will elect me comes 2022, I am the change that they deserve, “he said.

Mount Kenya MCAs caucus Chairman who is also Ichagaki MCA in Murang’a County Charles Mwangi Ng’ang’a when contacted claimed that the politics of Kieleweke and tanga tanga will determine who will be the next governor of Murang’a.

Mwangi said that the battle between North and South will revive the memories of 2017 where there was an agreement between the aspirants but it wasn’t fulfilled.

He said Murang’a South (Maragua, Kandara, Gatanga and Kigumo) was to produce governor, while the senator would hail from the North (Kiharu, Kangema and Mathioya).

The position of the Deputy Governor and woman representative were to be elected from the South and North respectively.

In 2017, Murang’a South fronted former Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau and Royal Media radio presenter Waithira Muithirania to the positions of women representative but lost to Mwangi Wa Iria and Sabina Chege respectively during party nominations.

“Already two candidates from Murang’a South, Jamleck Kamau and Dr Moses Mwangi have declared interests for the seat, they will battle out during nominations and whoever wins might support the other, then they will now face off with their colleagues from North, “MCA Mwangi states.

Senator Irungu Kang’ata, Water PS Irungu Wairagu, former devolution PS Irungu Nyakera, Kembi Gitura and Sabina Chege hails from North region.

Antony Mwangi Ngonyoku, a close ally of former MP Jamleck Kamau told People Daily Digital that Kamau hasn’t fully made up his mind on what he will contest for.

He said that majority of Murang’a South voters are urging him to vie for the governor seat while also the same demands are made by the residents of Kigumo constituency that he once represented in 2013.

“It’s not clear whether Jamleck Kamau will contest, but in case, he will complicate the game plan following his 2017 performance against Mwangi Wairia during the Jubilee party primaries,” Ngonyoku said.