Kieni lawmaker Kanini Kega now says that he ceased using his real name James Mathenge Ndungu after it cost him the parliamentary seat twice, before his ultimate win in 2013.
Speaking at Milele FM on Wednesday, the MP narrated how his supporters, most of whom only knew him as Kanini Kega ended up voting for other people after missing it in the ballot.
He said that he considered switching it ahead of the 2013 polls, after frustrations in the two previous polls, after which he proceeded to clinch the seat.
"Nilianguka mara mbili maana watu walikuwa wanajua naitwa Kanini Kega lakini kwa debe wanaona James Mathenge Ndungu, wakapigia watu wengine (I lost twice because my supporters could not find my nickname in the ballot, instead meeting my real name James Mathenge Ndungu and ended up voting for other people)," he said.
The Jubilee parliamentarian was speaking on Milele FM's Kivumbi Show on Wednesday morning.
He added that the twin loss frustrated him both emotionally and financially, leading to him vowing that he would not seek the seat again, and decided to concentrate on his businesses.
Kega added that upon returning to Kieni in 2011, he made a declaration that he would once again take a shot at the seat, and managed to secure it, before being the only elected leader to secure a reelection in Nyeri county in the 2017 polls.
"2013 nilichaguliwa na kura nyingi sana na 2017 maajabu ikafanyika na nikawa kiongozi was pekee kurudishwa uongozini na wananchi (I was elected by a landslide in 2013 before miraculously securing a reelection in 2017, when no other leader was reelected)," he revealed.