Kiunjuri’s bill to save Mt. Kenya and bring equality

Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri during a past engagement | PHOTO-Courtesy

By Gerald Kibaki

From the classroom to politics, the story of Mwangi Kiunjuri embodies the spirit of anything is possible. The former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary currently serving as Laikipia East is a man of vigor, kind hearted, incredibly honest, transparent, and firm in whatever he believes can make life better for the people he represents.

The 54-year-old trained teacher was elected into Parliament in 1997 and retained his seat in 2002 and 2007. In 2013, he tried his luck for the gubernatorial race and lost to Joseph Irungu. In 2017 on advice from former President Uhuru Kenyatta, his shelved his bid for the gubernatorial seat and was eventually appointed a Cabinet Secretary.

Despite being sacked as Agriculture Cabinet Secretary in 2018, Kiunjuri didn’t despise himself. He dusted himself up and formed The Service Party (TSP) which he used to run for election and clinched the Laikipia East seat in 2022.

In the run up to the 2022 polls, his name was floated as possible running mate for President William Ruto.

“If I happen to be picked Ruto’s deputy, I will not hesitate to lobby for the interests of the people of Mt Kenya, but if we continue acting like priests during church summons and shy from agitating for our issues, we are doomed to fail. We cannot feed our cows here in Mt Kenya and have the milking done in other regions,” Kinjuri said then.

True to his word to defend Mt Kenya, Kiunjuri is now seeking to ammend the IEBC act with his focus being the Review of boundaries in March 2024 to ensure equal representation through the one man, one vote, one shilling rule.

“The core of my proposed amendments is that the forthcoming boundaries review, which should constitutionally take place by March 2024, should, as required by the Constitution, ensure equal representation and that as much as possible, each vote cast carries as much weight as possible as any other vote cast in the same elections,” Kiunjuri says.

The Act is meant to improve Kenyan Electoral System and address the huge population disparities between wards in the same constituency and between constituencies across the country.

“A ward in one constituency has 70,000 voters, while other wards in the same constituency have voters ranging from 6,000 to 24,000. Such disparities are indeed unacceptable.

Kiunjuri said the denial of equality of the vote is a denial of both equal citizenship and of equal protection of the laws.

Kiunjuri urged the Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs ( JLAC) to urgently move the country towards remedying this injustice by recommending to the House the enactment of legislation and constitutional changes that ensure that constituencies within counties and between counties are as nearly as possible equal in size.

“Wards and constituencies have evolved as an important locus of economic opportunities (recruitment to key government bodies such as NYS) and development projects (Roads and Bursaries). To achieve equal opportunity, it is important that population parity be recognized as much as possible,” Kiunjuri says.

Kiunjuri is confident the process of “Making Laikipia East Great Again” is on an upward trend.

The MP has prioritized the construction of 35 school projects that include Classrooms, Science Laboratories, Administration blocks, and Dinning Halls among other projects aimed at giving students a dignified learning environment.

‘Contractors in all the 35 schools’ projects earmarked for construction are working round the clock to ensure timely completion of the projects. In the same breath, our NG-CDF oversight committee is on-site to ascertain that the set Construction standards are adhered to. We are determined to transform this constituency to levels never seen before,” Kiunjuri said.

Kiunjuri added that his resolve to turn around the infrastructural look of area schools is paramount.

“I am grateful that parents have agreed to partner with us. At Mwihoko Primary School, I have pledged to build four new classrooms during this parliamentary term, while parents will contribute towards building an extra classroom. In Wiyumiririe Primary School, I have promised to build five classrooms while the parents will build four more classrooms,” he said.

Ironically, despite ruling the constituency for two uninterrupted terms,  the MP says many schools are in poor condition because not much has been done in the past to improve the situation.

“My abiding promise to the people of LAIKIPIA East is that our schools will never again be in this poor state again,” he said.

Kiunjuri has also lobbied for the construction of Ngobit, Makutano, Mugumo, and Kalalu markets and brought experts and engineers from the State Department of Housing and Urban Development for a feasibility survey on the ground.

Kiunjuri said the only remedy to NG-CDF education bursary fund allocation is through the above Bill to help the needy in society.

Thousands of learners already received NG-CDF bursary cheques to their Boarding Secondary Schools, Tertiary, and University.

“Under this program, every deserving boarding secondary school and tertiary institution student receives a total of Sh. 5,000 each, while university students receive Sh10,000 every year. We are committed to giving our students the dignity they deserve to good results are to be achieved,” he said.

Kiunjuri however gave a stern warning to Olpajeta conservancy and Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) to enhance security patrols in areas of Njogu-ini, Githira, and Kijabe where Jumbos have caused untold suffering to residents.

He said the biggest threat to food security in Laikipia East Constituency is not global warming, but wildlife invasion.

“In as much as we support conservation of wildlife, it cannot be at the expense of the lives and properties of our people,” he said.