By Kenn Okaka
The 2022 general elections will present Kenya with a shift from the culture of electing leaders based on their tribe and political inclination to electing leaders based on their expertise and track record. This has been well elaborated by the entry and quick popularity of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) president Richard Ngatia in the Nairobi gubernatorial race.
Ngatia, who until his entry into city politics was seen as an underdog has become the talk of the town cartels who are now running scared.
All candidates contesting for the seat of Nairobi Governor have their guns trained at Ngatia as he continues to make inroads in the city.
In the Azimio la Umoja Movement, Westlands Member of Paliament Tim Wanyonyi who announced his bid early hoping to be the front runner has been left wondering how tides changed from his side. The incumbent Governor Ann Kananu has failed to capitalise on the power of incumbency in the City Hall race, city businesswoman Agness Kagure and former Dagoretti South Member of Parliament Dennis Waweru have their bids dead on arrival and have joined Wanyonyi and Kananu in directing attacks on the candidature of Richard Ngatia.
In Kenya Kwanza, the Deputy President’s axis, Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja and former Starehe MP Bishop Margret Wanjiru are yet to publicly attack Ngatia. However, every political analyst worth their salt will easily decipher from the duo’s handlers, that both are a worried lot and their supporters have in their tongues, Ngatia as their main rival. It is easily discernible that they both fear facing Ngatia in the ballot and their wish is for the Azimio la Umoja wing to help them by not subjecting them to the reality of facing Ngatia at the August 9th general elections.
Ngatia has not yet officially launched his campaign but opponents are running scared in fear of facing his opposition at the ballot.
Debunking the thought that his meteoric rise in popularity in the Nairobi gubernatorial race by his deep pockets, those who understand Ngatia’s modus operandi will confirm that the KNCCI boss is not a random person. Ngatia is very strategic and deliberate in how he approaches everything including his business acumen.
His shrewdness in business if translated into the political arena will make even the so called political gurus run helter skelter, this to the benefit of the Nairobi electorate.
His closeness to the powers that be and his attitude towards politics would be reason enough to cause worry to any opponent.
Three weeks after coming public to announce his intention to vie for the Nairobi top seat, Ngatia has already made shock waves leading in opinion polls that have been conducted by major polling companies in Kenya.
As people continue thinking of Ngatia as a rookie in city politics, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry president has consistently maintained focus and has challenged the electorates not to elect leaders who lack vision and whose priority is in their own interests.
Ngatia has maintained that he intends to bring the expertise he has gained from his international interactions into the management of Nairobi county to ensure that Nairobi achieves a third wave in commercial development.
Undoubtedly, if Ngatia’s name will be on the ballot come August general elections, then ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the fourth Governor of the great city of Nairobi, county 047 in Richard Ngatia.
Kenn Okaka,
Communication and PR Lead at Intouch Media
