25 to wrestle with former Energy minister for Imenti seat

25 to wrestle with former Energy minister for Imenti seat

By IMANENE IMATHIU

Last updated: Fri, Sep 07, 2007 09:52 AM (EAT)

More than 25 people have declared interest in the Central Imenti parliamentary seat held by former Energy minister Kirugi M’Mukindia.

Mr M’Mukindia reclaimed the seat on a Narc ticket in 2002 after defeating lawyer Gitobu Imanyara who had sent him packing in 1997 after two terms.

The campaigns are likely to renew rivalry between Mr M’Mukindia and Mr Imanyara.

Other candidates include Mr Murugu Mugwika, Mr Fabian Murugu and Mr Dominic Muthuuri. The rest are the Rev Moses Kirima, Mr Muriungi Kiugu and Mr Martin Mugambi Mithega, who is Mr M’Mukindia’s nephew.

Mr Nelson Kaimenyi, Mr Justus Wambutura and Mr Moses Nthurima are also in the race.

Poor infrastructure, including roads and bridges, collapsed coffee and cotton sub-sectors, declining education standards and rural electrification are among issues likely to feature in the campaigns.

Farmers cannot access markets because of poor roads and they watch helplessly as bananas and other fruits rot on farms.

Mr Murugu rounds off his campaign message: “It is economics, economics and economics.” This area is considered a Narc Kenya domain and although many of the aspirants are hesitant to declare their parties, those who are targeting the flower group are not shy.

Mr Kaimenyi, Mr M’Mukindia, the Rev Kirima, Mr Imanyara, Mr Kiugu and Mr Wambutura intend to seek the Narc-K ticket. Aspirants Murugu and Muthuri are targeting Democratic Party of Kenya and Ford People respectively.

Mr Mugwika, who was third behind Mr M’Mukindia and Mr Imanyara in 2002 on a Kanu ticket, has not declared his party.

He has played off the Uhuru Kenyatta group of Kanu against the Nicholas Biwott faction, even as he actively supported the revival of Green African Party under Gachoka MP Joseph Nyaga’s leadership.

Mr Nthurima, who is the Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers deputy secretary general, has also kept his supporters guessing on his preferred party.

Mr Muriungi will be running on a Narc-K ticket. Political temperatures have already started rising among the aspirants.

For instance, some Narc-K aspirants cried foul after secretary-general Mukhisa Kituyi and Justice assistant minister Danson Mungatana accompanied Mr Imanyara to open a party office at Kariene Market in the constituency.