Kabete, reputed to be the richest rural constituency in Kenya, always generates a lot of interest in the elections. It is also famous for having once been represented by the former powerful AG, Charles Mugane Njonjo. It is right now aflame with an operation that has been dubbed OMO, short for Operation Muite Out. After having held the seat for a record three terms, Muite fatigue is now pervasive in the constituency and the common wisdom is that his time is over.
The fatigue has largely stemmed from Muite's alienation from his people, which has resulted from the perception that he is too busy playing national politics and has no time for them. The CDF is another issue that has not endeared to him to many, despite feeble PR attempts to portray the CDF issue in Kabete in good light.
The frequent swipes he has been directing at the Kibaki government have made his constituents perceive him as a traitor. There is also the added problem of which party to nominate him, as everybody thinks the Narc-Kenya candidate will take the seat. That candidate will certainly not be Muite.
The indisputable fact is that Muite saw his third term in parliament by default, largely attributed to the fact that the flamboyant Lewis Nguyai was in Kanu. But despite Muite playing dirty at some stage, he still gave Muite a major scare, notwithstanding that he was on a Kanu ticket, a party that was, and is still anathema in Kabete.
The field in Kabete appears quite crowded with more than 20 people expressing their intention to stand. Narc-Kenya alone is said to have more than 10 aspirants who are seeking its nomination. But while many of the aspirants are minnows by all standards, there are a few names being bandied around that can put up a credible fight.
Among these is Charles Kahura, a former chairman of the Nairobi Central District Association and a prominent city architect. The scare he is causing was amply demonstrated during his father's funeral only recently. In attendance were both Muite and Nguyai but many people read some dishonest motive in their attendance.
Some claimed they were only coming to gauge the threat paused by the youthful Kahura. While Nguyai had a good showing in the last polls, many doubt whether he can repeat the same this time round. He frittered his monies in the last election campaign and is fairly impecunious.
Another r aspirant is civil engineer Cecil Mungai, who has been quite busy campaigning. There is also Eric Kiriko, a young lawyer from Kikuyu. The galaxy is completed by Francis Ng'ang'a, a young businessman who is said to have modest academic credentials. He is said to be a primary school dropout but he is a veritable My moneybags. He has been causing a stir by the huge donations he is making to a number of projects and has mounted a very strong campaign. These appear to be the major players but only time will tell who wins this seat.
12 Responses to 2007 Political Hotspots: Kabete Constituency
I want to disagree with the writer who sems to believe that only Nguyai,Nganga and the rest hementioned are poised to win the seat..it does not matter which party a candidate stands with in kabete as long as he or she can deliver..the writer seems to believe that only people with money to dish out to our people can ensure one wins the seat..shovk on him and he can ask Nguyai that..we got people like Gibson Mburu whom i have seen canvassing the constituency and has popular support..he is asking the voters in kabete to invest in their votes in kabete..he is not buying the votes by dishing out monies..this is mature politics..tell the people what they stand to gain with you as their MP not how rich you are..there are women running for the seat or does the writer not recognise that either?Kabete is surely getting rid of Muite and i think this man GIBSON is just the person to replace Muite..
my thanks to the people who started this site and especially about our constituency-kabete..am 28 years old and i have voted for Muite once in 97 but i voted for Nguyai in 02..i voted for Muite then because he was fightin g a regime that i deemed to be bad..in 02,i voted for Nguyai because i felt kabete needed a break from MUITE'S REIGN..BUT Nguyai proved to be the biggest disappointment after he let his ego have the better of him-what with him dishing out so much money,abusing Muite's mother and letting his uncle stay in a morgue for six months because of a land dispute that was what?i think the man should take a break from politics and reconstruct his public image especially at his home in Gikuni..and his businesses..if he could mismanage a business empire like Mediplus-only God knows what he can do with our CDF..
I agree with anonymous that there are people who are aspiring the Kabete seat and are going round dushing out money as if theyare buying the seat..people of kabete-open your eyes and see that this are people who don't mean well for our home..a time has come to make a wise choice about who should be our next MP and i think Gibson is the leader we have been waitng for..
I attended a church service that he happened to be there and i was very impressed with his speech,his vision for kabete and most of all-he listens..i have heard how he is touch with people on the ground and my hope is that God will help this man win this seat because a win for him is a win for kabete..
i have just sen nganga mundia dish out money to people in wangige..he has been at it for the last few days where people exchanged blows for a mere 1000...are our people that desperate?This man says he used to wash cars in wangige some few years back yet he is a multi-millionaire today!HAS anyone dared ask what his source of wealth is?I hear he can't even write his name..tell me people of wangige-where are you taking kabete constituency?Here we are trying to get rid of muite and you are running to village fool..i hope you are just eating his money otherwise i go back to my home in muguga a very dejected voter..
a few days ago,a candidate called kimani held a meeting only to end after another candidate(name withheld)came in as if to disrupt him..they gave out money indiscriminately but left people very upset..people were asking-isn't there a mature leader than these two shenanigans?Muite is the worst evil we know and these two are lesser devils...i know there is a leader out there who has been called by GOD to lead his people of kabete-a man who fears God..not drunkards and their busybodies..its a crying shame to see grown men and women follow this people as if they are demi or mega gods-FOR MONEY....put your constituency first for heaven's sake..if there is a leader out there-pliz let me know-i will gladly vote for him or her...
just to add one of my peoples Robinson Gichuhi is on the race too, young man who is educated and i believe he can deliver
it high time the aspiring candidate to know that we Kabete voters are enlightened thus are neither bought or blow by euphoria wind, so guys trend carefully. Here is my man KIGURU STEPHEN a well educated young man who is ready to serve the Kabete voter where Hon Muite has failed.
The people commenting here on the Battle of Kabete need to visit www.ngugi-wa-mbugua.com for a sneak preview of the shape of things to come in the constituency. Ngugi wa Mbugua, a former Nation journalist has caused a major sensation in the constituency with the recent release of his bi-lingual open letter to the constituents titled Cometh the Hour, Cometh the Man (You've All Been Waiting For!) and Ihinda Ni Ikinyu (Mundu Niuyu Mutuire Mwetereire) in Gikuyu. I understand this is the one challenger Muite is really scared of, chiefly because Ngugi being a media professional, he will be watching every move Muite makes to continue his old manipulation of the Kenyan media to his (Muite's advantage).
Friends and colleagues. You aint seen nothing yet until you meet and listen to Robinson Gichuhi. This young man represents what the New Kenya and the New Kabete truly need. Robinson (a graduate of Lenana School, University of Nairobi and the University of Missouri, USA), has what it takes to get Kabete out bondage. Indeed, he has lived the 2030 Kibaki is taking about and he knows what accountability is. His vision for Kabete is clear--from healthcare, security and job-creation. His connections in the United States will also ensure massive injection of ideas and support.
Good leaders are made not born. If you have the desire and willpower, you can become an effective leader. Good leaders develop through a never ending process of self-study, education, training, and experience. we need a leader who is. Competence with Integrity, Vision Commited,with, Decisiveness who Understanding people and have, Self confidence. I only find all this this with one man colled Stephen Njuguna (Githitu)
Be careful njoroge mungai,Robinson has failed in the usa and i dont see any miracles that will make him change kabete...please vote wisely..he is a very sweet talker,so be very careful and dont take his words at "face value"or else may regret you wastied your precious vote.
g wa gitau can find no one to share his/her misery with but the aspiring candidates. Anyone who does not share her defeated spirit is a failure in her own shallow perspective of life. Robinson help deliver our people from the sense of hopelessness. If only he/she can start think positive and tell us what she/he is looking for in successful leader. Wananchi be aware of people like g wa gitau they are the Judah's of today.
g wa gitau, the world does not need people like you who fish on others failure. One can never prosper in life with negative attitude. You remind me of Raila Odinga, the biggest fallacy that Kenya has ever seen. I can imagine you are one hell of a miserable Kenyan trying to make ends meet through doubles and triples. But still can't make headway. If you happen to be a good reader, the following phrase should not be foreign,'A failure is not failure until you give up'. g wa gitau don't give there is still hope for those who feel oppressed mentally and hopeless. Start dreaming big!!!!!!!!!!! Kenya need leader who will not give up despite obstacles they face and Robinson Gichuhi is one of them.
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