The contest for Thika Town parliamentary seat appears to be a two-horse race between former MP Alice Ng’ang’a and controversial cleric David Ngari alias Gakuyo.

With the exit of the incumbent Patrick Wainaina “Jungle” who is going for the Kiambu governor seat, both Ng’ang’a and Gakuyo have hit the campaign trail.

The clergyman got a reprieve recently when the government handed over the management of his Ekeza sacco, which has been under receivership since 2019 over a Sh1 billion debt, to depositors.

Besides, the cleric got a shot in the arm when his fellow pastors threw their weight behind his candidature, vowing to use their influence to ensure one of them becomes the area MP.

“We are going to change the political landscape by supporting one of our own to become our MP. 

We have a responsibility to ensure our people get the right leadership,” said pastor Simon Mbatia during a thanksgiving event at the Calvary Chosen Centre Church in Thika.

Other aspirants who have declared interest to succeed Wainaina include academician Juma Hemedi and businessman Nduati Njuguna.

Gakuyo, who is the general overseer of Calvary Chosen Centre Church in Thika, has been campaigning on the platform that he is a native of the constituency.

He argues that the area has in the past been electing “outsiders” as MP.

He claims that Ng’ang’a, who was the MP between 2013 and 2017,  is one of the outsiders.

Gakuyo claims she comes from the neighbouring Juja constituency while Wainaina has his roots in Gatundu North.

Time is ripe 

Previous legislators, among them William Kabogo and Stephen Ndicho, were also outsiders according to Gakuyo.

“Time is now ripe for Thika people to elect one of their own to represent them in Parliament and that person is me,” said Gakuyo who hails from Munyu area in Gatuanyaga ward.

But Ng’ang’a has dismissed the “outsider” narrative as irrelevant and said that the people were comfortable with her leadership.

“The people of Thika know me as a committed servant because of my previous development record.

When I’m re-elected, I will work hard to achieve even greater development in the constituency,” she said recently.

Both Ng’ang’a and Gakuyo have been attending church and other community activities.

The two are known for their mobilisation skills which sets the ground for a titanic duel.

Ng’ang’a is a close ally of Deputy President William Ruto and is going to seek to recapture the seat on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket.

Gakuyo, on the other hand, is expected to run on a Jubilee ticket or any other party allied to the Azimio la Umoja under the leadership of ODM leader Raila Odinga. Kiambu Governor James Nyoro has endorsed Gakuyo.