Gatundu North MP Anne Wanjiku Kibe and former legislator Clement Kung’u Waibara have renewed their political rivalry after the duo got cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to contest for the parliamentary position in the August 9 polls.

Kibe, a former journalist had envisioned a smooth-five-year tenure to implement her manifesto after she gallantly floored five men among them Waibara, former MP Kigo Njenga among others in a contest that saw her garner 39,191 votes.

Unending cases launched by Waibara challenging her victory however saw the former radio presenter spend valuable time in courts defending both electoral malpractice claims and ineligibility to vie as she was allegedly still a nominated MCA by the time she got cleared to run.

Kibe and Waibara’s clearance by the electoral body on Monday, May 30, 2022, at Kamwangi town pricks the raw scars of their unhealed political wounds that could degenerate into a major debate during their campaigns that have already started.

The Gatundu North MP who is the ruling Jubilee Party candidate began her legal battles at the Kiambu High Court where Justice Joel Ngugi ordered the electoral body to repeat the election that he said was not only conducted badly but one that had also been done with methodical inaccuracy and mediocrity.

Gatundu North MP blames court cases for derailing development

Speaking after she got IEBC’s nod to defend the seat, Kibe said Waibara’s court cases had been orchestrated to derail her development agenda but did not succeed as she executed almost all the projects she had planned.

“I have been spending much of my time in courts battling electoral cases that followed my win in 2017 but I don’t give excuses for non-performance. I got to know that they wanted to tie my hands not to work but I became wiser and more aggressive. I have spent a lot of money in courts to the point of losing my psyche and giving up but I am encouraged by the people who gave me the power to represent them,” she said.

The incumbent MP reiterated that her clearance by IEBC heralds a new promise for Gatundu North people who she said have experienced a very slow development rate due to mismanagement of public resources by former leaderships.

Waibara, an independent candidate who also spoke at Kamwangi town, maintained that IEBC had shown a bit of maturity and preparedness to conduct a free, fair and credible election.

“IEBC has changed their modalities of operations; they have even changed the returning officer and we hope they will be independent this time around. Our prayer is that they offer all of us a fair playfield so that whoever wins is allowed to continue serving without issues,” he said.

While promising to conduct peaceful elections, Waibara insisted on the need for Gatundu North residents and Kenyans at large not to perceive politics as a do or die thing and instead uphold unity of purpose for social-economic development.

Others cleared to vie for the same position are youthful scholars Engineer Mathew Mukuha, Paul Mugo, Professor Ndung’u Ikenye, Harun Gatarwa, Kigo Njenga, Elijah Njoroge and John Mariga.

The aspirants have staged a battle of the titans as all of them are politically stable and have a huge following from their respective villages.

They promised to among other things improve the vast constituency’s infrastructure, turn around the poor academic performance in schools, better agricultural activities and enhance the creation of job opportunities for thousands of youths who have found refuge in the abuse of outlawed substances due to desperation.

“I have been on the ground doing community work since 2019 and I am not new to the people. I believe I’m the change they want,” Mugo who is vying on Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC party said.

“The people of Gatundu North have sought transformative leadership and the change is here. I have a wealth of experience in academia and I will overturn the poor academic performance of this region, I will offer better value addition ideas for our agricultural products and fast track infrastructural developments,” said Ikenye who is vying on Tujibebe Wakenya Party led by former Kiambu governor William Kabogo.