African Press International (API)

Publisher: Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no source.standard.ke

Politicians like Mwau should get top positions because they know how to use it for the benefit of the constituents. Many others should emulate him. The people of Ukambani should let him serve them in the capacity that will benefit them. We applaud his appointment to the post. He should, however, be elevated soon to a full cabinet minister because of his charismatic personality. Kenya needs men of his character who will uplift development and electrify the areas for the good of the people. API

Return of Mwau the PICK Boss

Published on April 19, 2008, 12:00 am

Mr John Harun Mwau recites the Oath of Office during the swearing in ceremony of the Prime Minister, Ministers and their assistant at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday.

The burly former police sharp shooter, the piercing eyes as usual lurking behind dark glasses, last month walked into Kenya Power and Lighting Corporation offices and deposited the last tranche of Sh100 million. That was just part of his contribution to single-handedly have homesteads, churches and public utilities in the poverty infested rural setting, electrified.

The businessman-cum-politician further told The Saturday Standard in an interview that he is paying fees for 263 college students in his constituency. “I have major plans for the constituency, which I will deliver,” he says.

Mwau plans to run his constituency with the traditions of the corporate world, and has employed two people per location to supervise and implement Kilome development projects.

He has also donated 300 motorcycle taxis to youths to enable them do transport business. He says they cost him Sh27 million.

To execute the tasks under the rallying call Osa Vinya Mukamba (The Kamba, take power), Mwau has employed two people per constituency.

The source of the astounding amount of cash lining his pockets could be the result of abdurate steel work of the Atlas Shrugged-type of Rand characters, but not what it is doing for his constituents.

Already, he is on record as the only MP in the Tenth Parliament whose entire salary goes into the constituency development kitty.

But Mwau, like his means, is not new to controversy. As the bad wind swirled around Nakumatt Supermarket chain over the Charterhouse Bank connection, Mwau’s name featured either as an interested party or big time depositor. His range of businesses include electronic wholesaling, warehousing and inland container depots. The motto of his political outfit, Party of Independent Candidates of Kenya, is Think, Work, and Grow Rich.

The Boss always leaves a big impression wherever he visits. But in his wake, the political arena sways. For, in his searchlight, he just does not have local politics in his mind. What is coming up is a titanic battle with Vice-President, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka – the icon of the Ukambani political bloc.

“The Boss”, as he called himself in 1992 when he contested and lost the Presidency and Westlands seat, this week added another feather to his cap. Courtesy of Prime Minister Mr Raila Odinga, he was named Assistant Minister for Transport. The man, with his trademark long grey beard, did not vie on an ODM ticket but worked with the party Kalonzo fought hard to lock out of Ukambani.

Flamboyant and a mystique figure of sorts, the former head of the defunct Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority campaigned in the style of America’s perennial presidential race loser, Mr Ross Perrot.

The MP, who conducted his campaigns on helicopters and breathtaking four-wheelers, made his political debut in 1992. Apart from the presidency, he vied for the Westlands parliamentary seat in Nairobi and lost.

Undaunted, Mwau filed a curious petition against retired President Moi’s victory. Mwau argued that he should be made President on the grounds that all the other candidates had used paper other than foolscap to present their nominations. Election laws require presidential candidates to present 40 serially numbered standard sheets of foolscap paper each signed by 25 voters on the nomination day.

“I wanted to show Kenyans that the law had been flouted,” says Mwau in retrospect.

The case, the only presidential election petition to be heard in full, was dismissed, but the court lavished Mwau with praise for his tenacity, resilience and stickler for detail.

Unknown to many, Mwau’s hobbies include law, politics and guns. He represented himself when his tenure at former Kaca became controversial. He defended himself before a judge Bench, confirming his legal side.

Mwau, too, is a remarkable and accomplished sharp shooter, of Olympic esteem. A former senior police officer in the Criminal Investigations Department, Mwau is carving out a niche for himself in Kamba politics, as a springboard for a national role.

“You can no longer ignore the man. He will certainly be a force to reckon with in the region,” says Mr Davies Musau, chairman of the Ukambani Leaders Forum.

Mwau won the Kilome seat last year after failing to clinch it in 2002, when Mr Mutinda Mutiso beat him to it.

He turned the tables against Mutiso, who was vying on an ODM-Kenya ticket, the party of choice in Ukambani.

But Mwau’s weight and might was felt in a by-election occasioned by the brutal murder of the then maverick area MP, Tony Ndilinge, in November 2001.

In this by-election, Mwau’s party put in place a well-oiled campaign team that even eclipsed that of its main competitor, Kanu.

So elaborate was the campaign that he set up a high-tech satellite communication system to monitor the by-election across the vast constituency. His agents used satellite phones to co-ordinate the polls from all centres and had a command post at the Salama, on the Nairobi – Mombasa Highway. But the Communications Commission of Kenya officials later dismantled the communications gizmos saying they were unlicensed.

“They feared I had an edge over Kanu and tried every means to derail my campaign,” claims Mwau.

The aggressive Pick campaign was highly mobile and funded to a level that worried the ruling party. Kanu responded by bringing out its heavy political artillery and finances to stem the Mwau wave. By the final lap, it had become evident that the by-election had been reduced to a two-horse race between Kanu and Pick.

The effect of Mwau’s resources was underlined when Moi led Kanu’s top brigade in a campaign blitz two days to the polls.

“Mwau was a threat to us and we had to go an extra mile to stem his tide. He is a tough man who fought and also wins,” says former Masinga MP, Mr Ronald Kiluta.

The former assistant minister concedes that Mwau’s entry into active politics will change the political balance in Ukambani and possibly Eastern Province.

“The man has clout and style. He will certainly cause some politicians in the region sleepless nights,” adds the former military officer.

During the by-election, the Pick candidate, Mr Kioko Mulandi, came an impressive second behind Mutiso.

“I did not contest but all our opponents ended up focusing on me. It was a battle I was sure of winning,” says Mwau.

‘The people of Kilome will not at any time regret electing me as their MP. I will work for them’

But now with his win in Kilome and subsequent appointment as an assistant minister, Mwau is on the same mode – to catch attention, command power and astound his opponents, even hypnotize them with his presence.

Top among his projects is the provision of clean drinking water to the locals, grading of roads and improvement of learning facilities.

He blames underdevelopment in Ukambani on poor leadership over the years. “Our leaders have spent many years practicing sycophantic politics and undermining each other, at the expense of development,” says Mwau, who does not mince words.

Mwau, Water and Irrigation minister Mrs Charity Ngilu, rebel ODM-Kenya MPs Mr Charles Kilonzo (Yatta) and Mr Kiema Kilonzo (Mutito) are said to be teaming up to checkmate Kalonzo in Ukambani.

‘Mwau has the resources to mobilise any kind of support he needs in the region. He is no joke’

“Mwau and Kalonzo are not the best of friends and their rivalry is certain to go to new levels,” says a local ODM-Kenya MP.

Mwau displayed his wealth in 1997 when he turned up at a fundraising for the National Youth Development Fund, presided over by Moi.

Queuing behind Kanu supporters to make his contribution, he drew the attention of hawk-eyed security detail with the bulging A4 khaki envelope he carried.

Moi’s security guards drew him aside and checked the contents.

They found Sh2.5 million in cash, earning the politician praise from no lesser person than Moi himself.

In November 1997, Mwau declared he was no longer interested in politics. Under just a month later, Moi appointed him as the head of the then newly created Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority.

But he was removed from office following recommendations by a tribunal formed to investigate his conduct.

But Mwau was back in active politics in 2001. He held a series of meetings at a city hotel with civic leaders, teachers, touts, barmaids and taxi drivers to chart the way forward for Ukambani politics.

“The man has a vast network which works for him. He knows when to activate it for his good,” says former Kibwezi MP, Mr Onesmus Mboko.

A merger between the then Raila Odinga-led National Development Party and Kanu in March 2002 saw Mwau’s Pick join in. He was elected one of the four regional Kanu Vice-Chairmen in October.

In the run-up to the 2002 General Election, Mwau crisscrossed Kilome making generous contributions and constructing dams, bridges and roads. The electorate however rejected him. Mwau withdrew from the scene only to emerge last year, winning against the ODM-Kenya wave.

_______________________

African Press International – api