Thursday, September 13, 2012. Category: Diaspora News

Renowned media personality Wanjiru Chege has resigned to embark on her bid for the Women Representative seat for Murang’a County. The Coro FM presenter who was also the controller of commercial radio services in the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation officially tabled her resignation letter on Monday.

Speaking during a press conference in Murang’a yesterday, Wanjiru said she aspires to be the voice of the voiceless in the parliament. She said her priority is creation of jobs for the youth and women who claimed are still neglected by the government. “I have worked in the media industry for the last 15 years and I have been articulating issues affecting the less fortunate members of the society.

The reason I want to enter into politics is to ensure that I become part of the team which will be making the laws,” she said. “Women and children are still discriminated upon and I will fight to ensure that they are respected and recognised in the society,” she said. Wanjiru who lives in Kinyona village in Kigumo constituency said she will champion the rights of women and children.

She said over the years the two groups have shied away from competing for political posts a move she said was giving room for politicians to continue exploiting them. The women leader at the same time pledged to support the Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s bid for presidency.

She at the same time expressed confidence that she will defeat her competitors in the coming general election. Wanjiru who is popularity known as Wanjiru wa Chege by her morning show fans believes that her prowess and popularity in the media will give her a head start. She also enjoys support from Murang’a County local leaders forum, several youth and women groups.

At the same time the race for the Women Representative seat in the County has heightened with the entrance of several contestants among them a Mayor among others. Among the candidates gunning for the position include Radio presenter Sabina Wanjiru Chege who works for vernacular radio station Coro FM,and Murang’a Mayor Mercy Wanjiku Kimwe.

Others are Elizabeth Muthoni Maina, an administrator and IT expert, Lucy Waithira Njoroge, a former teacher and KNUT official in Murang’a South, and a former high school Principal-cum-business woman Catherine Wambui Omare. The five candidates have publicly declared their intentions to contest for the seat in several public meetings where they have also sought to endear themselves to the electorate.

Some have also been holding meetings to strategize on how to win with others aligning themselves with politicians or political groupings within the county. Most candidates have been attending church functions or public meetings organized by politicians or groups to campaign. Each has exuded confidence that they would clinch the position come election time and majority seem to be relying on their past positions in leadership and connections to earn victory.