I want to start off by clearing the air about my tribe. I am a Luo, and while this is not important, at least in my world, I am real enough to know the true value of tribe in our country. There are those stupid enough to think that just because I am a Luo, I am bound by the folly of my ancestors and the spellbinding spirit of “baba” to stick behind Dr. Evans Kidero, even as he steals his way to hell and roasts the city to nowhere. Well, I am a 21st century Luo, looking for real leadership. I do not give a damn the tribe of the real leader. I will stick my neck out for an Ogiek or Dorobo any day if this is the path to genuine leadership that will help save our fatherland.
Nairobi County is too important to be left in the hands of Evans Kidero. Nearly every Kenyan now knows that our governor is stinking rich, courtesy of his shameless looting of Mumias Sugar and the City County coffers that he raided mercilessly as soon as he took office. He was evidently on a mission to recoup the kshs. 200 million he had given to Justice Philip Tonui. Now, let any brilliant Luo stand up and reprimand me for not supporting this thief. After all the hype from the media on how Kidero would save the city, this is what he has given us. The brainless slum guys who eat, walk, bathe, breathe, and drink tribe might stick with Kidero, but in the name of God who sustains me, and the good education I have gotten, Kidero will never get my vote. Not with the poverty in Kibera, his runway corruption, and the misguided opposition to NYS projects that, albeit riddled with corruption, are better than his “nothing.”
Dennis Waweru stands as a serious candidate for a number of reasons, and if he clarifies a few issues, I might vote for him. He has a reasonable level of education, which is necessary for a leader of the top county in the country. He is also sober and seems to possess the right temperament that we all must look out for any candidate vying for governor. Remember Kidero’s lack of control of his “mercurial temper that saw him slap Shebesh?” Well, it is not so brainy to slap a woman. Even by low African standards, that is just silly. Actually, physical fights are no longer a means of solving any problem. Wild animals use that. Human beings with brains engage in dialogue. Waweru is also a natural fit for governorship given the “unfortunate” trend of our country whereby voting for a tribesmate is much easier than voting for the most qualified person. The Kikuyu vote in the city county is sizeable, and there is no doubt that Waweru will find it easy to carry it home. Granted, he might struggle to connect given his somewhat cold personality which makes him look like he is in politics out of pressure and not his natural will. But eventually, he will easily get the Kikuyu vote.
Mr. Waweru: He presents the best case for Nairobi gubernatorial seat.
Also, he can go toe to toe with Kidero in intellectual exchanges, something other candidates save Miguna Miguna, might not manage. But since Miguna Miguna’s abrasive manners will most likely set him against everyone, Waweru remains alone as the only fellow who can take on and beat Kidero. Waweru also boasts on having held elective office since he is the current MP for Dagoretti South Constituency. This does not set him apart since others who have expressed interest in the seat have also held elective office before. In fact, a top contender who might just beat all the rest, Mike Sonko, is Nairobi’s senator. But serving as an MP gives Waweru an additional quality to use in his bid.
Lastly, Waweru has made very few enemies compared to his opponents. Sonko is quite abusive. He is always using vulgar language that does not reflect well on his character as a leader. His abusive nature has earned him a good number of enemies who might invest heavily in making sure he loses. Miguna Migunaseems to be annoying everybody and Kidero is disliked even by those in his own party, CORD. Rumour has it that the party tolerates him because he bankrolls it. Sakaja has his fair share of enemies given that he blocked all his former Vijana na Kibaki friends from accessing President Uhuru. On his part, Waweru is a friendly fellow whose enemies are not in high places. It is possible that even the president likes him. The president’s only worry is that Waweru might not be as electrifying and as charismatic as Sonko, and this might cost Jubilee the seat if Waweru is the candidate.
With all these qualities, my lots are with Dennis Waweru. Before you start, opening your mouth and dismissing me, remember that we are in a free country where freedom of expression is enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic. I just exercised that freedom. Do not crucify me for it.
By Crispus Odhiambo,