Kanini Kega the never-say-die soldier in the Azimio coalition

Just like old wine, Kieni Member of Parliament Kanini Kega appears to ripen with age. The second term member of parliament has been the backbone in championing and reviving the Jubilee party that was dimmed dead.

If you won’t find him at the constituency level you are bet sure that you find him at Jubilee headquarter at Pangani burning a midnight oil preparing the party for the next election.

Kanini Kega has taken on the mighty in politics and government and even headed a national political party Jubilee whose party leader is Uhuru Kenyatta. But it doesn’t seem like he’ll be done any time soon.

Kanini was elected MP in 2013 when he used Kanini Kega on the ballot, dethroning his predecessor Namesyus Warugongo who served under the Party of National Unity (PNU) ticket between 2007 and 2013.

He is seen by many as the right-hand man of President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nyeri County and has actively been a part of the handshake team popularly known as Azimio la Umoja.

He is seeking a third term as a member of parliament a move that will be written in history books in case he wins. In 2017, he was the only lucky politician to be re-elected and his re-election for a third term will be inscribed in the history books.

Mr. Kega is confident of winning a third term. Acknowledging that he has faced challenges as far as infrastructural development is concerned, he claims to have done 300 kilometers of tarmac while making many other roads motorable through graveling.

Among his opponents is former county council chairman Wachira Maina of Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria’s party Chama cha Kazi and businessman Wainaina Njoroge of Deputy President William Ruto’s UDA.

On health, he claims to have lobbied for the building and equipping of the Naro Moru Level Four Hospital for Sh300 million as well as the setting up of the Kenya Medical Training College in Kiawara.

They claim that Kanini has evolved politically and has shown signs of political maturity and can be trusted with higher leadership.

About two months ago, Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino had requested ODM leader Raila Odinga to pick Kanini Kega as his running mate ahead of the August 9, General Election.

Owino said that the Jubilee legislator has what it takes to be Raila’s running mate.

“I could have picked Kanini as my running mate if I was Raila. He has what it takes, and he is qualified for the position,” Owino stated.

Owino said he has worked with Kega and that the Kieni legislator is famous not only in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region but also in Raila Odinga’s Nyanza region.

On Thursday afternoon, Kanini Kega led a group of Nyeri politicians to hold a meeting with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Windsor hotel.

Throughout the meeting, his name was called out more than a thousand times and was always consulted whenever an issue would arise.

He rallied the people of the Mount Kenya region to campaign for Raila Odinga and not to be shy.

Kanini expressed confidence that Raila’s presidency will be perfect and the people from Mount Kenya will be the highest beneficiary.

“Let all join hand and campaign for baba (Raila Odinga) he means well to our people,” Kanini said.

Kanini recently noted that he was ready to campaign on behalf of the former Prime Minister across the country unfazed.

“Raila needs to be rewarded because the country is experiencing peace following his handshake with President Uhuru,” he added.