Nyeri Governor Dr Mutahi Kahiga./KNANyeri Governor Dr Mutahi Kahiga is planning to move to the Senate once he completes his final term in office next year.
Kahiga, who took over from Wahome Thuku, who perished in a road accident in November 2017, has already gone public over his intention to go for the senatorial position, although he has not announced his political party of choice.
Speaking on Inooro TV recently, the county boss, however, said his reason to contest for the seat was out of patriotism for his country and county and not for selfish political ambition.
“On August 10 next year I will be a jobless Kenyan, as my term as Nyeri Governor will have expired. However, reflecting from what we have achieved in the last decade, I feel there is a need to continue safeguarding what has been accomplished so far. We need someone who can safeguard and oversee the excesses of the Governor who will take over from me and part of the reason why I am offering myself as Senator next year,” disclosed Kahiga.
Pressed to explain why he is not willing to hang up his boots after his term as governor comes to an end, Kahiga argued that he remains confident his input in the affairs of the county and the country is still valuable.
He insisted that once he becomes Senator, his immediate task will be to fight for additional allocation of resources to counties and pushing for funds to follow functions into counties.
Kahiga claimed that while many functions were devolved to counties, the national government still retains a large chunk of responsibilities that were meant to be under the purview of Governors and singled out Agriculture and Health as case in point.
“Many of the functions that were devolved were never followed by funds as required often leading to challenges on delivery of services to the public. For instance, while Agriculture and Health are devolved functions, we find that most of the resources and programs still remain in Nairobi. Part of the reason why I will be going for the Senate seat is to ensure resources still retained at the national level are finally brought down to counties as outlined in the Constitution,” he said.
On his relationship with Rigathi Gachagua, Kahiga claimed he is among the few leaders who stood with the former Deputy President when he was being hounded out of office by way of impeachment.
Kahiga, who came short of disclosing the political party he will use to contest for the Senatorial seat also urged the opposition to remain united for them to make any meaningful impact in the forthcoming presidential contest.
“I am one person who literally put his political career on the line by standing with Rigathi Gachagua even after he was impeached. I came out strongly against the move and warned our Members of Parliament against going that direction and termed the move a bad precedent for the country. As to whether I will join the Democracy for Citizens Party (associated with Rigathi) as my party of choice, that announcement will be made in the fullness of time and with advice from the people of Nyeri,” he said.
On his part, Deputy Governor Warui Kinanire has already thrown his hat in the ring for the Nyeri gubernatorial seat while fronting himself as the ideal man to take over from his current boss.
Kinanire, who will most likely have to fight it out with current Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga and New Democrats party leader Thuo Mathenge wants to use the track record of their term in office with Kahiga as a bargaining chip to woo the residents of Nyeri to vote for him as their next Governor.
“I believe I possess the best qualifications to be the next Governor of Nyeri having deputized my current boss (Dr Mutahi Kahiga) for ten years now. Dr Kahiga is planning to vie for the seat of Senator next year and I want to continue with the great work which we have been doing for the people of Nyeri,” said Kinanire while speaking on Kameme Radio recently.
“Let them (residents) not look for people who have not been tested elsewhere to take over the leadership of this county but choose someone who has been tested. Let the people evaluate us for what we have done so far, accomplishment which has made this county rank between position one and ten in terms of performance out of all 47 counties,”
