Wa Iria dares opponents in numbers game
Usawa Kwa Wote presidential hopeful Mwangi Wa Iria has dared his opponents to show their numbers ahead of the polls even as he self-proclaimed he is the spiritual leader of the Agikuyu community.
Wa Iria who is also the Murang’a Governor maintained his base that brings together Muranga, Kiambu, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Laikipia, Nyandarua, Nakuru and Embu counties have many registered voters who should align themselves to his political outfit.
“I have more than enough votes in Mt Kenya region and I can assure you that. If any of the presidential hopefuls doubt me, let us compare the numbers. Let them bring their numbers and I bring mine,” claimed Wa Iria.
The presidential hopeful exuded confidence that his ‘Usawa Kwa Wote’ is already a coalition of the voters, adding that he is poised to win by ten million votes in the August polls.
He further dismissed the two-horse narrative arguing that he has the numbers to ascend to power and declared that the time is ripe to hit the ground running.
He said although has not been actively campaigning for his presidential bid he is confident of securing Mt Kenya votes.
Wa Iria charged that he had come to a conclusion that he won’t join any existing coalition be it Kenya Kwanza, One Kenya Alliance or the Azimio la Umoja championed by Orange party boss Raila Odinga.
The county chief was categorical that the ‘Gikuyu and Mumbi’ the cultural and traditional grandparents of the Agikuyu community had bestowed on him spiritual leadership and cannot fail to vie in the August polls for the presidency.
While exuding confidence that he has already bagged 10 million votes, Wa Iria said that just like other presidential contenders have gone to their bases to consolidate the votes, he is also asking the ‘Kikuyu community’ to back his bid, adding that he cannot abscond the duty of shepherding the community.
“I can’t abscond the duty of not leading our people. I am a spiritual leader. Gikuyu and Mumbi will confront me if I don’t vie,” he said during a press conference at his Usawa Kwa Wote party headquarters in Lavington.
Candidates in all positions
He said that his political outfit is out to seek power, adding that it will field candidates in all positions from the Members of County Assembly (MCA) to the presidency level.
“We are out to seek for power and we shall go all the way to the ballot. Our party which stands for equality and equity is a coalition of the voters and there is no other bigger coalition than this,” said Wa Iria.
He said that he would be affiliating, partnering and joining hands with the ordinary voters
Now, the Murang’a county chief says he already has 10 million votes and dared his opponents in the August 9 presidential election to show what they have.
Wa Iria said he is banking on the Agikuyu community that he said has anointed him as the next president of Kenya.
The governor also said he is in a process of drafting a bill that will advocate for every household to own a cow.
He also dismissed Deputy President William Ruto’s bottom-up economic model and Raila’s Sh6,000 monthly stipend for the poor as unachievable.
Wa Iria launched his presidential bid last year where he promised to prioritize agriculture, education and health sectors.
The governor had resorted to popularizing his presidential bid on billboards in various parts of the country and the majority of his supporters have their vehicles branded with his photo and party slogan.
On Monday, the Murang’a county boss said he was “waiting for the appropriate time” as per the Constitution to roll out campaigns across the country.
The governor welcomed like-minded parties to form a pact with the Usawa party.
“Raila and Ruto can only look for me and not the other way round,” he said.
Wa Iria, 57, was elected as the first governor of Murang’a county and is currently serving his last term in office.
Before joining politics, Wa Iria was the Managing Director of Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC).
He has also served as National Sales Manager of Kenya Breweries Limited, Managing Director of Ngano Feeds Limited, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Freshco Seeds and as General Manager of the Commercial Division of Industrial Promotion Services.
