Something big is happening in Kitui Central constituency as young politicians begin to put up strong financial war chest and campaign strategies to fight it out for the parliamentary seat.
The seat which is currently held by Makali Mulu, is being eyed by young politicians Alex Nganga (Miambani ward MCA), Chris Ileli and Henry Malonza Kituti.
Mr Kituti was recently in the eye of a sizzling storm when a photo of him cavorting with Kibwezi East MP Jessca Mbalu went viral on social media, casting him as a lost cause, only fit for entertaining aging women.
In the photo posted by mistake by the MP and which she deleted immediately, the two lovebirds were in a drinking den where the legislator was displaying acres of her legs to the dazed young Kitui politician.
Mr Kituti is said to be a man of moderate means and in the last elections, he was bankrolled by his brother to gun for the same seat where he finished second.
On his part, Mr Ileli who is also rumored to be eyeing the seat is a suave, unassuming young man, currently serving as Chief of Staff under governor Charity Ngilu’s government.
Mr Ileli, a real estate mogul first appeared in the political scene during the last elections where he is said to have bankrolled Ngilu’s campaigns to a tune of tens of millions.
Although he has not personally declared interest in the seat, several voices from his backyard are pushing for his candidacy as he is said to be a down to earth man with a helping hand.
During Ngilu’s campaigns, Ileli was nicknamed Bill Gates for his deep pockets something that instantly endeared him to the current governor who has an insatiable affinity for money.
It is not clear under which ticket Ileli will contest but those who are close to him say that he is scheming a political onslaught never witnessed before in Kitui Central that will leave his rivals gasping for breath.
Our efforts to get a comment from him were futile as he was said to be busy in official duties.
“I cannot say whether he will run or not. His mission for now is to serve the people of Kitui in his current capacity but he is ready and willing to serve the electorate in other capacities in future,” said one of Ileli’s handlers who requested anonymity.
Mr Nganga on the other hand is a young, outgoing former journalist who dropped the pen to become Ngilu’s PA when she served as minister in the National Government.
It is through Ngilu that Nganga got his first nomination to Kitui County Assembly through Narc before successfully contesting for Miambani ward seat in the last elections.
Should Nganga decide to go for the seat, he will be Ngilu’s right hand man in Kitui Central and would most likely get political funding from the governor who is under the radar of EACC for misappropriation of public funds and irregular hiring of employees.
However, Nganga’s dalliance with the embattled governor and lack of enough financial muscle might be his greatest undoing.
The people of Kitui Central seem to have grown weary of the current MP Makali who has been accused of being colorless and a fence sitter, especially on the ills dogging the county under Ngilu’s leadership.
EACC has confirmed that Ngilu is among six governors being investigated for corruption allegations and self-profiteering.
Perhaps having known that his chances to be re-elected are next to nil, Makali is said to be scheming to throw his hat in the ring for Kitui gubernatorial seat, an attempt that has been dismissed by many as laughable and dead in the water.
Political pundits say Makali has no mettle for the top county seat, and worse his record has been dented by the Auditor General who in his two reports cited some of the MP’s projects as shoddy, fraudulently executed and with no value for money.
“Makali stands no chance at the gubernatorial contest. He is a serial fence sitter and a quiet Ngilu sympathizer and apologist. His idea is to lose while running for a bigger seat” says Dr Charles Kyale, a political analyst.