Why Mt Kenya tycoons set up ‘rescue’ team ahead of 2017 general elections

George Muhoho. 

One evening last month, a group of wealthy Central Kenya businessmen met at the prestigious Windsor Golf and Country Club in Nairobi.

Within an hour some Sh51 million was raised. The impromptu harambee was conceived after the tycoons, some of Kenya’s top billionaires, discussed how they could help resolve some problems bedeviling their Mt Kenya backyard.

On that cold February evening, the business magnates agreed on the need to change the social face of Central Kenya by starting a journey to redeem the region’s tattered image. Thus, the Mount Kenya Foundation (MKF) was born.

Weeks later, events following that meeting have taken the region by storm. The money raised then has helped renew the fight against illicit brews and mobilised locals to register as voters. A campaign dubbed Epuka Ulevi (avoid alcoholism), an initiative of the MKF group, has been going on for the past one week.

Although these business moguls have been known to pull strings behind the scenes and were also influential in previous governments, they have surprised observers by coming out in the open.

The group comprises the who-is-who in the wealth club. Its members are not known to have a penchant for politics despite being influential in their own circles.

Equity Bank Chairman Peter Munga, Mastermind Kenya entrepreneur Wilfred Murungi, former Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Commissioner General Michael Waweru and former Kenya Airports Authority Chairman George Muhoho are the leading lights of the MKF group. Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru is also a member of the MKF board and acts as the link between elected leaders and the group. He was tasked with executing the group’s agenda.

In an interview with The Standard on Sunday, the foundation’s national coordinator Mutuma Nkanata said the group formed the kitty as part of “giving back to society.” “They felt the need to lead from the front and ensure issues affecting the region are addressed. They took upon themselves to be involved in all matters touching on the people,” Mr Nkanata said.

The group’s role is to complement efforts by elected leaders in the fight against the killer brews. “That is why we had to involve elected leaders who can influence the legislation process. Some issues affecting the region need to be addressed through policies and legislations,” said Mutuma.

Government blessings

With alcohol abuse reaching an all-time high and the once thriving agricultural sector on its deathbed, the leaders decided a turnaround needed their personal touch.

The influential group is said to be the force behind the recent formation of a task force by President Uhuru Kenyatta to look into the ailing coffee sector.

The tycoons are also pushing for the revival of the once vibrant tea sub-sector, which was behind the economic vibrancy of the region.

First on their list of to-do things was to bring together the political leadership of the region.  This culminated in a massive meeting of Governors, Senators, MPs and Members of the County Assembly in Nyeri.

The tycoons financed the meeting, whose top agenda was the region’s unity and fight against chronic alcoholism.

To show how serious they are, they have contracted consultants to advise them. A member of the secretariat said Dr Gladys Mwiti, a psychologist, is leading a team of consultants working on a policy document to tackle alcoholism.

The group has mobilised all the 11 county assemblies in the region to formulate a law that would govern sale and distribution of alcohol. Already, a draft Bill has been sent to the government printers before it is distributed to all the county assemblies in the region.

The group’s activities seem to enjoy the government’s support. Cabinet secretaries and principal secretaries have addressed some of their meetings. The Nyeri retreat was attended by, among others, Interior PS Dr Karanja Kibicho.

What took many observers by surprise is that unlike before when their influence was behind the scene, this time they have come out to the open.

According to political analyst Prof Macharia Munene, their status as respected elders in the society could be the reason behind their decision to tackle the issues head on.

“Remember these are respected members of the society in the country and more so in their regions. And after seeing what is happening on their backyard, it is prudent that they come out to lend a hand,” Prof Munene said.

The urgency witnessed in other regions over the ongoing voter registration, the political analyst said, could be the reason the group came out to mobilise as many residents as possible to participate in the exercise.

Political Scientist Adams Oloo said lobbying among wealthy business people is common in most countries “since apart from taking care of the welfare of their people, they have their interests to protect.”

 However, their involvement has raised questions about the local leadership.

Wake-up call

“Is this not an indictment to the leaders from this region. Have elected leaders failed in their mandate?,” said James Maina of Futa Magendo Action network.

“When you see business people doing what elected people are supposed to do, there is a problem. This should be a wake up call for the leaders.”

But Waweru, who chairs the Central and Nairobi Parliamentary Group, dismissed the notion that the political leaders have failed, saying MKF was complementing what the leaders were doing.

“We are united in ensuring that we tackle the problems facing the region,” said Waweru.