Why Miguna Miguna is a 'special' independent candidate

Close to 4,000 people have decided to run as independent candidates in the forthcoming August polls.

According to those who have decided to go it alone, most hinted that they did so because of the rot in the main political parties. They blamed political parties for failing to conduct free and fair party primaries, rigging them out and handed the tickets to close friends.

However, Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi has denied claims by independent candidates saying that there is more to the reasons the independent candidates are giving.

Speaking during an interview on a local TV on Tuesday Wamatang'i said that nearly all the candidates who have decided to seek elective posts as independent candidates decamped from major political parties after failing to make it in party primaries.

“Out of those 4,000 people, 3,999 other than Miguna Miguna were in other political parties. Then after failing in the political parties, they went to independents. I will tell you fast forward what really happens and where you will judge why,” said Wamatang'i

According to him, a majority of those candidates don’t have a plan, they don’t have a manifesto, they don’t have political ambitions and political acumen but they believe that when you run for a political office it is a shortcut of making money.

He also said that the belief that most of them have is that if you find your way to Parliament, you are most likely going to be economically better off, have the chances of traveling around the world and earning allowances.

Mr. Wamatangi has decried the low turnout of MPs during national debates in parliament. He further said that more than 80% of the MPs have not spoken in parliament more than five times. Most of them hardly sponsor motions and bills in parliament.

Meanwhile, Miguna Miguna has picked the running mate from Murang'a County- James Gathungu who is twenty-four years old.