As the August 9 polls draw closer, the race for Gatundu North parliamentary position is progressively becoming an interesting topic.
The position has so far attracted 17 candidates some of whom have contested before, some have held the same position while others are new entrants.
Among the 17 candidates, only one female is eying the position that will see only one individual represent the constituency in the August House from August and beyond.
The constituency which currently enjoys 71,810 voters, the lowest in Kiambu County will see current and former MPs Anne Wanjiku Kibe, Francis Kigo Njenga and Clement Kung’u Waibara wrestle in a contest of the titans.
Stiff competition is however expected with the entrance of youthful candidates among them Mathew Mukuha Mwangi, a vocal engineer by profession, educationist and businessman Paul Mugo and real estate player Elijah Njoroge alias Kururia.
Others to watch in the heated competition are university don Prof. Ndung’u Ikenya alias Mr. Brown, businessman John Mariga, tea reformist Mumu Gatarwa among others.
But who stands to win the tight race among the 17 candidates?
Political pundits aver that gender, party politics and development record will majorly determine the winner.
According to political experts, the female candidate in the race stands a high chance of winning against her challengers as she is likely to win the votes of fellow women.
“Women form the largest percentage of potential voters. They care about their country and a person who convinces them most might take the day. Gender factors can only be ignored by persons who are not serious contenders,” Joseph Murage, an expert in politics says.
Murage says that party politics will also largely determine the winner of the race that has attracted two major political parties among them United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the ruling Jubilee party.
“Any person in UDA, in a constituency where Deputy President William Ruto is like a kingpin, must be a threat. This however does not mean a Jubilee candidate cannot outshine them if the first factor is anything to go by. In my opinion, the race in Gatundu North is a fight between gender and party politics,” added Murage, who has no political ambitions.
Residents who spoke to kiambunews.co.ke however mentioned that development track record among the 17 candidates will give them direction on who to accord power to represent them in parliament.
“Some of the candidates have served before and others are serving. We will compare the successes and failures of them all even as we look at what the new entrants have for us,” Joan Mumbi, a resident from Githobokoni Ward said.
In 2017, Kibe, a journalist and teacher made history after beating 6 male contestants by garnering 39,447 votes against Waibara’s 9,314 while Kigo followed with 8,124 votes.
Other candidates among them former Kiambu County chief of staff Dominic Gicheru who was vying as an independent candidate managed 1999 votes, Patrick Karigi on a Mendeleo Chapchap ticket followed with 545 votes while John Njenga, an independent candidate only managed 78 votes.
Ends…………/
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