Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri, a formerly Tangatanga aligned member allied to Deputy President William Ruto that has morphed to United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has finally eaten a humble pie and settled to contest for Laikipia East parliamentary seat.
Having been touted as a possible Ruto’s running mate and then DP’s key point man in Mt Kenya region, now dumped after making coalition demands with UDA, Kiunjuri is seeking to reinvent himself having faded away from the national politics.
The Tangatanga outfit led by Ruto openly championed Ruto’s succession politics defying President Uhuru Kenyatta’s call for order and stoppage to early campaigns in order to deliver government agenda.
Before he was picked from the political cold and shoved up to the national limelight after being appointed to the cabinet by President Uhuru Kenyatta, Service Party (TSP) leader unsuccessfully contested for Laikipia governorship a seat he has considered to be above his weight considering his waning political persuasion in the region.
“I am vying for the Laikipia East parliamentary seat so that I can represent my people at the country’s top decision table. My track record is still visible (after) my 15 years’ tenure,” the TSP leader said in Manyatta.
“The President’s decision has taken me by no surprise, I thank God, I feel relieved. Remember, for any action, there will be reaction. I thank you.” Kiunjuri said during a media briefing on January 14, 2020 after he was forced out of cabinet.
He will now battle it out with against Laikipia Women Representative Cate Waruguru who’s allied to UDA among others during the August polls.
Kiunjuri held the parliamentary seat for three five-year terms between 1997 and 2013, made the announcement during a meeting with a section of youths in Laikipia on Sunday.
Kiunjuri fell out with the former over differences in political opinion.
Revealing intricate details of his perceived strained relationship with Ruto, Kiunjuri stated that his decision to insist on his own political party was inconvenient but strategic as it would guarantee the Mt Kenya region was respected in the event Ruto was elected president.
He noted that there were many of his colleagues in the Mt Kenya region who were following UDA blindly because of being given handouts and perks such as campaign choppers and a running mate position.
However, in what paints bitter-sour taste of betrayal by the DP, Kiunjuri stated that if he had sought to be the running-mate slot, he would have dissolved TSP and joined the Ruto-affiliated outfit.
“If I clinch this seat and Ruto opts to appoint me to represent my people at a top level, I will have to resign, similar to what CS Charles Keter and Joseph Nkaissery did,” Kiunjuri said.
“Even as I urge you to vote for my friend William Ruto, kindly vote for firm foot soldiers like Kiunjuri who will help him to run the government,” he added.
The former CS openly rejected the idea of other parties in the Mount Kenya region dissolving and joining the (UDA).
In 2013, the former CS unsuccessfully vied for the gubernatorial post of Laikipia under the new constitution however, he lost the election to Joshua Irungu who was a newcomer in politics.
Between 2003 and 2013, Kiunjuri served as an assistant minister under President Mwai Kibaki’s government. His stint was at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation as well as the Ministry of Energy.
He was then appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2015 as the Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning ministry.
He took over from Anne Waiguru who had resigned due to corruption allegations.
Before losing his CS job, the country had been invaded by locusts which had become a bigger challenge to his ministry.
