Gatundu North Constituency

A 21-year-old school leaver is seeking to unseat assistant minister for Agriculture Patrick Kariuki Muiruri.

He is among the three latest aspirants eying the Gatundu North seat. Seven other contestants had way back confirmed their interest.

It will be a monumental task for Mr Kabue Ng’ang’a who sat his KCSE examination last year at Kairi Secondary School.

He is out to make history of sorts by being the youngest person ever to seek a parliamentary seat in the greater Thika and Kiambu districts.

He joins Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) lecturer Vincent Gichuru Gaitho and retired Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) official Gerald Mbuthia as the latest entrants.

It promises to become the most bruising battle against the well entrenched Mr Muiruri who knows when to shift political alliances when it suits him.

Others who had earlier declared interest include a farmers’ crusader, Mr Muchiri W’Njuguna, former Dagoretti MP, Mr Clement Gachanja, an accountant, Mr Kigo Njenga, a Thika-based advocate, Mr John Ngaruiya Kirori, a former area MP, Mr Kamuiru Gitau, an engineer, Mr Mukora Wakimani and a social worker, Mr Kung’u Waibara.

A 2002 loser, Mr Nahashon Ngugi Gatarwa, who is in remand facing a murder case in connection with the 2005 death of Mr Muiruri’s political ally Peter Ndung’u (“Gadaffi”) is also being mentioned as a possible contender.

But his candidature will depend whether the case it will be concluded in time before the elections due in December.

A senior officer in the ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, Mr David Nduati Kigochi, is still weighing his options but will be fielding candidates elsewhere through his newly registered Farmers Party.

The youthful Mr Kabue will be banking on support from the tea growing community owing to his association with Mr Gatarwa who is a former Mataara Tea Factory chairman and key arch-rival of Mr Muiruri.

Mr Gaitho, who is also making a debut in politics, has been involved in community activities such as tree planting and youth empowerment programmes.

He is of the view that the incumbent has not done much for the people of Gatundu North and promises to turn around development through proper use of CDF kitty.

Mr Mbuthia, who is a former IGAD director for economic co-operation, is no stranger to Gatundu North. He has been working with various groups as part of his campaign strategy.

Issues of agriculture, particularly the controversial merger of coffee factories spearheaded by the MP, will feature in the campaigns along with tea and dairy farming.

However, the MP professes to have one of the best managed CDF projects and challenges anyone with a different opinion to prove otherwise.