The rise of Peter Kenneth

By Francis Ngige and Boniface Gikandi

The launch of Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth’s bid for the presidency has spiced up politics in Central Kenya and demonstrated he is determined to face it off with his Gatundu neighbour, Uhuru Kenyatta.

Mr Kenneth, whose constituency happens to be on the same side of River Chania with Mr Kenyatta, is now perceived by his admirers to stand a better chance of leading this country, according to supporters.

Before President Mwai Kibaki ascended to the presidency ten years ago, there was a myth that the presidency would not go beyond River Chania to other areas of Kikuyuland. This was in reference to the reign of founding President Jomo Kenyatta who hailed from Kiambu, which was separated from other parts of Central by River Chania. Prior to Mr Kenneth’s launch of his presidential campaign a week ago, there was speculation the Trade assistant minister would not make good his promise of contesting the presidency.

However, judging from the reaction of some techno savvy youthful voters through social media, Mr Kenneth has revitalised his campaigns almost to the levels it had reached during the period before the launch of TNA.

With the kind of reception he has received since he officially launched his bid, Mr Kenneth can no longer be taken for granted.

According to political observers, his powerful entry will give Mr Kenyatta and Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua some food for thought as the total support for the region’s voting bloc can no longer be guaranteed.

A political analyst, Wahome Gikonyo, says although Uhuru is the candidate to beat in the region, his handlers should be wary of Mr Kenneth’s threat.

“The launch has become a major talking point in social circles and for now Mr Kenneth has attracted some attention. Being from the Central Kenya region, his candidature cannot be taken for granted,” said Mr Gikonyo.

Real issues

He, however, said the rising popularity of TNA would make it difficult for Mr Kenneth to penetrate the area.

Across the social media and in newspaper articles, his bid was praised as he chose to tackle real issues, breaking away from what other aspirants have been doing — attacking each other.

Before he launched his bid, Kenneth had almost been written off but now there are already fears among some Uhuru supporters who think that the Deputy Prime Minister should not take things for granted.

To many skeptics, Mr Kenneth had joined the ranks of other wannabe presidential candidates from Murang’a — the late Mukaru Ng’ang’a, Pius Muiru, and former Kandara MP Waweru Ng’ethe.

The most successful candidate from Murang’a to have contested the presidency was Kenneth Matiba who despite having a fanatical following never made it to State House.

Interestingly, the larger Kandara Constituency from where Gatanga was carved, has always produced assistant ministers from 1960s, when its first MP, Bildad Kaggia Mwaganu, was appointed by Kenyatta to serve in the Education ministry. Other assistant ministers have been George Mwicigi Ndung’u (Agriculture), Joshua Toro (Roads) and now Kenneth (Trade).

An MP from Murang’a who declined to be named for fear of political reprisals from TNA observed: “We must now not assume that Mt Kenya is solidly behind Uhuru with the kind of response that Kenneth got. Although Uhuru is the person to beat in the region, a chunk of his support base may have moved to Kenneth.”

Mr Kenneth was popular among the youth and going by what he had achieved with the Gatanga Constituency Development Fund (CDF), selling his candidature will not be difficult.

At the launch of his presidential campaigns, Planning Minister Wycliff Oparanya described Mr Kenneth as visionary leader who will be trusted.

“Kenneth has been credited as the most trusted leader in management of CDF in Kenya. As planning Minister in charge of the CDF kitty, what I am telling you is documented,” said Mr Oparanya.

“I have received calls from some of my supporters in the grassroots saying that Kenneth’s launch was well received,” said the MP.

Although Mr Kenneth had initially enjoyed the support of most of Murang’a MPs, he has not been able to keep them on his side and most of them have moved to TNA.

His launch at Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) was given a wide berth by most of Mt Kenya MPs except Muturi Mwangi (Kiharu) David Ngugi (Kinangop) and Emilio Kathuri (Manyatta).

Mr Ngugi explained to The County Weekly that he had attended the launch as a friend since Mr Kenneth was a man he had known for a long time.

“Please let everybody understand that I am in TNA. I went there because he invited me. I even wanted to go there wearing a TNA T-shirt but he convinced me not to. There is nothing more to it,” Mr Ngugi explained.

Facebook

Immediately after the launch, Kenneth’s official Facebook page was inundated with goodwill message from Kenyans who expressed their support for him.

“You are the only candidate who has tackled issues and avoided politics of personalities. You have my vote,” wrote Jane Wangechi in Peter Kenneth’s official Facebook page.

Johnston Njoroge said with Kenneth promising to address issues related to health, education, security, water and infrastructure, he had demonstrated his grasp of issues as opposed to political rhetoric

“We are tired of these politics of confrontation. Kenneth chose to state what his plans are for the first five years if elected president,” said Mr Njoroge.

Nithi MP Kareke Mbiuki, however, downplayed Kenneth’s impact in the region saying Uhuru was the region’s presidential candidate of choice.

Mr Mbiuki said going by the rate at which TNA’s popularity has grown since it was launched, it was clear the local electorate had made their mind on who to vote for.

“It is not a secret that TNA is the popular party in the region and Uhuru is the presidential aspirant of choice. I don’t think there will be another political force,” said Mr Mbiuki, who is also an assistant minister.

Kieni MP Nemesyus Warugongo says no one will be able to beat Uhuru in the region.

“It is not possible that Kenneth will take a sizeable chunk of Uhuru’s support. From what we have gathered at the grassroots, the political scene is sealed in favour of Uhuru,” Mr Warugongo told The County Weekly.

Nyeri Politician Simon Mathenge also known as Kanini Kega said the formal launch of Kenneth’s bid did not affect Uhuru’s standing in the region.

“There is no politician from either Central or any other region in the country that can beat Uhuru in Mt Kenya. We have done the groundwork and there is no turning back,” he said.

The launch of his presidential bid coincided with 20th birthday of the KNC, which was attended by thousands of his supporters.

Mr Kenneth listed education, security, health care, and promotion of tourism as his top priorities that require urgent attention.

He also took the opportunity to bid farewell his constituents in Gatanga who he described as having made him by working in partnership with him in the past ten years on development programmes.

Joseph Ngugi has declared this candidature for Gatanga parliamentary seat on KNC ticket while Dr David Wanyoike is ready to face him on a TNA ticket.