The Epic of Kigumo MP Jubilee candidate’s Hon Ruth Wangari Mwaniki’s Strategy.

 Written by Gitau wa Kung'u (profgitauwakungu@gmail.com)

A cool brown face whose mouth opens conservatively only but to speak in a soft but intelligible, alluring voice would make you assume her as any mysterious Jane Doe in the streets. Yet she’s ambitious, daring and go-getter of a lady with a true lioness’ character and spirit. She’s among the few true generals of H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee government daring to run against the UDA wave with Jubilee ticket in an area where the ground is carpeted yellow. She’s the incumbent MP, Kigumo constituency: OGW, Hon Ruth Wangari Mwaniki.

A disquieting woman whose first step into competitive politics, She shook the Kigumo parliamentary 2017 political arena 3 months to Jubilee nominations as the only female contestant. The three months are witness of a witty, well organized, and tranquil political strategist who ruthlessly vanquished men who had started campaigning a year and many months prior.

She’s now dominating the 2022 Kigumo political arena proudly. Clad on white-dove-logoed red barret, red Jubilee combat armor suit while powerfully raising the red Jubilee flag bravely inside the same arena where spectators cheer her more than their yellow champion, her rival UDA ticket contestant Joseph Munyoro. 

She itches to not only defend and retain her incumbency but also have her closest team members elected MCAs in the 5 wards within Kigumo constituency.

She is proving to have become not only an undefeatable woman but also a smarter political strategist. Below is an analysis of her well calculated political strategy that should secure her her 2nd and final term but also etch the revamping name of Jubilee party in the next parliament.

First she strategically selected youths from villages across the constituency and empowered them to acquire permanent and pensionable jobs like in the Kenya police, the Kenya army, in the treasury, in TSC and many other government dockets. 

Then she tactically disappeared and reappeared as she engaged in running Jubilee government errands to represent the government abroad and in BBI campaigns. Meanwhile, her empowered team was representing her well in supervising various CDF development projects, social conventions eg Harambees, church fundraisers and actively in social media. 

Thus, she ensured her name and works persistently remained relevant, ringing in the ears and pulsating in the heart of Wanjiku. Her lieutenants are now familiarized with the ground and even if some don't command great influence and respect yet, she's got backup bucks to compensate and convince for support later.

The OGW honoured lady was apt to engrave her legacy and maintain relevance by setting up a NG-CDF kitty that gave a partial sponsorship to national government projects funded by the treasury, World Bank and World Health Organization among others. She has consistently remained present during the government ministers’ (Interior CS Matiang’i, Transport CS Macharia, Health CS Cecily,Water PS Irungu wa maai) inspection of proceeding projects and launching of the projects after completion. 

In the different occasions, her name has been begetting a share of the glory as she’s projected a passionate lobbyist for development projects in Kigumo constituency. 

These include Irrigation projects like Kanjathi; expansion of Kigumo Level 5; the ongoing construction of the new Kangari market; Last mile project; Muthithi market expansion; Installation of street lights and floodlights; expansion of Kigumo Police Station; and also contributing to buying of School buses like Karega Sec's, Mumbu Sec.

She recently advised and supported some of her team members to vie for MCA with Jubilee ticket in the five Kigumo subcounty wards namely Kigumo, Kangari, Kinyona, Kahumbu and Muthithi. These have secured direct Jubilee tickets to run for MCA. 

This has ensured that she has a proactive plan to not only have at least some probable friendly next MCAs but also ensure she garners more votes through their influence strategically in different vote swing  wards like Kangari, Kigumo, Kahumbu. All the MCA contestants will be offered Jubilee party’s campaign kitty and they shall market both themselves and promote her campaigns too thus she will barely use her purse’s money and personal resources and achieve her goal.

To blatantly vanuish her, her closest political combatants, UDA’s Joseph Munyoro will have to come up with smarter strategies other than letting the UDA nominations competitor go on independent ticket, relying on the UDA wave innuendos, UDA meet-the-people roadshows, booming campaign vehicles and attending Harambees, burials and church fundraisers that she has been contributing in for the last 5 years via her team.