Is Tharaka Nithi UDA brigade rejecting former governor Ragwa for MCA Gataya in senatorial post?
From right Chuka Igambang'ombe MP Patrick Munene, governor Muthomi Njuki and Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki
By: Denis Mutua
Worth Noting:
- Governor Njuki,Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki,Chuka Igambang’ombe Patrick Munene,County woman MP Beatrice Nkatha and several MCAs allied to Njuki during their county wide seeds distribution program by the governor, drummed support for Gataya accusing Ragwa of massive theft when he was the governor.
- Gataya said senate require a competent people’s representative to ensure the county gets enough resources, away from the normal share which Ragwa do not fit to do.
- “There is no way we can have a strong governor, woman representative and MP and then have a weak senator at the national level. We should ensure Njuki gets a good senator who will keep watch of our resources and that position suits me best, ’Gataya said.
In what started as a smooth journey for the former Tharaka Nithi governor Samuel Mbae Ragwa in his senatorial bid come August polls, reality is dawning on him that he now has an uphill task ahead of him if he means winning.
When Ragwa declared bid for Tharaka Nithi senatorial post, no any other candidate had showed interest for the same and thus the former governor got endorsements from every corner of the County, probably making him perceive the journey to senate as a walk in the park.
It will be remembered by then the incumbent senator professor Kithuure Kindiki had hinted going for gubernatorial seat and the duo would publicly show support for each other and rally their supporters to back them in respective posts, after Ragwa had ditched TSP for UDA party.
Youthful senatorial aspirant Paul Mugambi would then emerge declaring his bid however he had not made public his party or coalition.
In a short span of time Mugambi would appear in governor Njuki’s meetings who had also not announced his party and speculations were all over that Njuki was sponsoring Mugambi as a calculated move to spoil Ragwa’s votes in Tharaka where Mugambi comes from.
The battle of the two senatorial aspirants kicked off with Mugambi accusing Ragwa of underperformance as Tharaka Nithi first governor while Ragwa and his supporters rubbished Mugambi’s bid terming him as Njuki’s political project.
However withdrawal of senator Kindiki in gubernatorial race during his earth quake announcement and entry of governor Njuki in UDA has since changed Ragwa’s fortune.
Days after Kindiki’s exit, Mukothima MCA Mwenda Gataya joined senatorial race on UDA party complicating the race even further considering that Gataya and Mugambi have been Njuki’s buddies and now were competitors.
In what seemed like Mugambi reading deceit in Gataya’s circle he later joined Jubilee party under Azimio la Umoja umbrella led by ODM leader Raila Odinga.
This left Ragwa and Gataya to fight for UDA party ticket, being awakening call for Ragwa that he was no longer enjoying comfort zone as he thought.
Things worsened when his rival governor Njuki officially joined UDA party and which was litmus test to see how they would work together in one party led by deputy president William Ruto.
However barely weeks after Njuki joining UDA, it is now evident that Ragwa’s matrix has completely changed and he might be forced back to drawing board if he really means business.
The recent planting seeds distribution by governor Njuki has given all the indications that UDA party bigwigs in Tharaka Nithi are against Ragwa and are all determined to secure their re-election back to their posts.
Instead, the brigade is now drumming support for Mukothima MCA Mwenda Gataya in his senatorial bid to succeed Kindiki.
Governor Njuki,Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki,Chuka Igambang’ombe Patrick Munene,County woman MP Beatrice Nkatha and several MCAs allied to Njuki during their county wide seeds distribution program by the governor, drummed support for Gataya accusing Ragwa of massive theft when he was the governor.
Gataya said senate require a competent people’s representative to ensure the county gets enough resources, away from the normal share which Ragwa do not fit to do.
“There is no way we can have a strong governor, woman representative and MP and then have a weak senator at the national level. We should ensure Njuki gets a good senator who will keep watch of our resources and that position suits me best, ’Gataya said.
Speaking at Kambandi primary, governor Njuki said Ragwa who underperformed in his tenure should not be given a chance in the senate as he may withhold resources to hinder Njuki from performing so that he fails to outdo him performance wise.
The same sentiments have been backed by MP Kareke, Patrick Munene and Beatrice Nkatha which raises eyebrows on Ragwa’s fortunes in UDA having been rejected by his party colleagues.
However Ragwa’s popularity with voters is still evident from his humility as first governor, the denial and negative publicity from leaders such as governor and MPs may deal him a big blow politically.
The situation may be worsened by the fact that the former governor is not an orator and has not been keen on campaigning like his fellow aspirants, perhaps due to the perception that he is already popular and thus clinching the seat will be an easy task.
Notably, senator Kindiki who had endorsed Ragwa in his bid is not expected to play County politics after being absorbed as one of Kenya Kwanza alliance principals which may leave Ragwa with no one on his side.
However Gataya sitting in budget committee in the county assembly of Tharaka Nithi which has been accused being discriminative in resources sharing among the three constituencies of the county, one may ask how genuine he that he will serve residents diligently is.
Also, some MCAs including Gataya have been accused of doubling as contractors working with the county government to murram roads and other jobs which is making analysts argue that Njuki wants a puppet senator who he can control without headache
Other analysts argue that this may negatively affect Njuki’s popularity in Maara Sub County where Ragwa come from; Njuki seems to have well banked on Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki to evade the mess.
With party primaries fast approaching, it remains a thing to watch how events turn for the former governor and UDA party aspirants in general.
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