Esther Murugi Mathenge

Esther Murugi Mathenge has been struggling in politics for the last fifteen years to capture the Nyeri Town parliamentary seat in central province of the country.

Murugi, 54 who is degree holder in Land Economics from University of Nairobi has tried to capture the seat for the last two terms but there is light at the end of a tunnel since this year she have been able to capture the Party of National Unity’s (PNU) ticket having beat eleven males. PNU is the party which President Mwai Kibaki is using for re-election of his second term.

An ecstatic aspirant who is among the over 120 women who passed the first round during an interview said she could not believe that she would emerge the winner the nominations despite the many challenges she encountered during her campaigns.

An elated candidate said Nyeri Town constituents have been in the dark for the last forty five years and it was time they realized that time has come for a change by creating a level playing ground for women aspirants.

"One must have very thick skills when deciding to go to politics if you are a female. This is because political opponents don’t address the issues affecting the constituents but our personal issues; they reduce politics to personal matters.” She explained.

She was the only woman contenders in the race and others who vied in civic wards were all dropped off and male counterparts picked.

"I urge the electorates not to look the skirts or the trousers the aspirants are wearing but to look for leaders who are able to show directions and deliver to them.” She added.

Despite the humiliations and challenges from her political opponents, she managed to garner 8, 545 votes to emerge the best compared to the last contender Wilson Nginga Kimotho who got only 78 votes. She was followed closely by Duncan Mathenge who got 3,214 votes.

Others beaten in the race were Paul Thumbi Kabai who got 2,837 votes, Peter Gichohi Mureithi (immediate former Member of Parliament) 2,816, Muhoro Mathu 1,242, Samuel Wamaathai 577, Julius Ndirangu Wahome 477, George Miatu 261, Thuo Mathenge, 189, Nyuguto Nderitu, 110 and Paul Kibicho who garnered 111 votes.

“I always tell my voters that they should read Judges 9: 14-15 where trees were looking for their leader. This is where they will realize that they have been pinched many times and it is time for them to run away from the thorns since they have been writhing in pain.” She added.

She narrated how she had been abused many  unprintable words by male counterparts while campaigning and due to bad roads she and her campaigners would be forced to leave their vehicles behind and walk using walking sticks due to deplorable roads seeking for votes.

There are many issues she has noticed should be hardly addressed for the constituents to move forward.

Some including the low level of education standards and illiteracy in the area which she said is like sitting on a bomb waiting to explode.

“I have interviewed many youths who normally beg in towns and says that they have finished their schools but when you go deeper they have gone up to standard eight. They are idle and uneducated which is very dangerous.

We need to raise the education performance since over 50 per cent got less than average marks in the last national examinations in both primary and secondary schools. The number of school dropouts is so high which has led to insecurity. We want to revive the youth polytechnic in the area.” She added

The mother of two children said the use of Government funds have ashamed the constituency due to lack of civic education among the electorates.

“A good example is the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) which has been a big let shame to Nyeri Municipality.” Since the introduction of the kitty, over Kshs 90 million has been pumped in the area and yet the kitty cannot be felt with some money going to non-existence projects. I will first urge the Government to carry an audit of this kitty.” She continued as the thanked those who voted for her.

The incoming MP on the PNU ticket has also questioned the Kenya Roads Board kitty, the Local Authority Service Delivery Action Plan (Lasdap) kitty and the HIV/Aids kitty and set better framework of how the kitty will be utilized and residents given opportunities to decide on which projects to be given priorities.

She will also help the orphans who have been left due to HIV/Aids victims.

Unemployment among youths has been a thorny issue and she vows to start income generating projects.

She has always complained that voter importation has been life at the constituency from the neighboring constituencies and called for Government to conduct civic education over the issue since it might influence the outcome of polls.

A word for other women colleagues is that any kingship is not given on a silver platter.