Home » Media Centre » Blogs » Constituency Profile: Gichugu (Final Part)
By Leah W. Njuguna
ASPIRANTS FOR 2007 ELECTIONS
Harry Mugo, a professional valuation and quantity surveyor for the last 30 years, is the strongest challenger to Karua. He has maintained a high level of campaigning in the region. Mugo says he is driven by the desire to serve the community. Mugo is calling for an audit of the Gichugu CDF alleging that projects which have been implemented so far do not correspond to the amounts allocated. He has also questioned the CDF committee and contractors selection saying those awarded the tenders were Karua’s cronies. In addition, he points to the poorly performing health sector and the lack of a clear vision for education in the area. According to Mugo, “Education quality has gone down drastically since the school committee and teachers have no motivation for the pupils and students.”
Another serious contender is Fedesius Nyagah, a former director of the Kenya Power and Lighting Company. He resigned to vie for the seat and will be trying to unseat the incumbent for the third time. Nyagah has been involved in horticulture and assisting farmers to get markets for their produce locally and abroad. He also claims to have assisted locals get electricity to their homes.
Dr. Jakan Gutu is another aspirant who cannot be taken lightly. He has promised to provide free medical camps occasionally if elected. The aspirant has been organizing these camps attracting hundreds of sick people. He has also been donating wheel chairs to physical challenged people. “My responsibility is the health of the Gichugu people because once you have good health other things go well,” he told a gathering recently. Gutu has also said he will revive the small scale industries to create employment and improve transport. The aspirant has said his main focus would be women and the youth who he terms as the perfect vehicle to eradicate poverty. Gutu has also said that education will also be his top priority where he will initiate Gichugu education loans board similar to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and ensure that no single child is left out of school due to fees. Gutu, who is a director of Kimunye tea factory, has also promised a better deal for tea and coffee farmers if he is elected. It remains to be seen the challenge he will pose to the incumbent MP.
With a number of skeletons in her wardrobe, Karua’s opponents and aspiring politicians will try their best to articulate her failures and why she should be kicked out.
But this will not be an easy task since Karua, being a tough fighter, will use all her muscles in an attempt to re-capture the Gichugu seat.
Categories: No tags
You must login to comment
There are no comments.