Ben Mwongela, fondly referred to as Muthukumi by his supporters made a debut in politics in the last general election in which he contested for Kitui Rural parliamentary seat.
Although he lost the race by a small margin to his competitor, the current MP Mboni Mwalika, Mwongela has never shied away from helping his people whether during harambees, weddings, funerals and other communal activities.
His latest engagement with the constituents was last weekend where he worshiped at AIC Kwa Vonza and donated 50 bags of cement for the expansion of the church.
“He is a good hearted man. Easily reachable and down to earth. He has left a mark in our lives” said Eunice Kalunda, a resident.
During an interview with our writer, Mwongela emphasized that he has the needs of Kitui Rural residents at heart, adding that he would go out of his way to alleviate their suffering in every way possible he can.
“Serving the community has always been part of me. My style of leadership is to initiate life changing projects that will empower our people,” he said.
For his likeable mien, the residents of Kitui Rural constituency are warming up to Muthukumi, with majority expressing their unshakable support for his bid in 2022.
If he does not lose his steam and get his political calculations right, it seems the parliamentary seat will be a walk in the park for him.
His stellar academic and professional credentials also present him as a well networked man who will have it easy mobilizing resources for his constituency even outside the country.
Mwongela holds a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management from the Maastricht School of Management, the Netherlands and has been involved in enterprise development and program management for over 20 years.
He is PhD fellow in Business Strategy in Moi University’s School of Economics and Business.
In 1998, he was voted as the Overall Best Trainer in Kenya by the Kenya Management Assistance Program.
He has worked extensively in the Eastern, Western, Central and Southern Africa region and in remote locations, where he has assisted local vulnerable communities.
Mwongela has also worked and consulted with large donor funded programs and organizations; International Planned Parenthood Federation – Africa Region, Trocaire, Terre de Hommes, Practical Action, Wildlife Foundation, IUCN, Equity Group Foundation, Kenya Markets Trust, Farm Concern International, Micro Enterprise Support Program Trust, Farm Africa, Royal Tropical Institute of the Netherlands, CARITAS Luxembourg and Switzerland, ADRA Somalia, World Wildlife Fund for Nature, SNV Netherlands, to mention but a few.
It is this huge network and wealth of experience that makes him the most ideal candidate for the MP seat.
“We shall work together with opinion leaders to change the fortunes of our people, always scouting for new opportunities especially for the youth,” Mwongela said.