Ukambani region boasts of having the top, vocal and experienced politicians in the country’s political circles.
The region also boasts of having participated in the country’s fight for liberation from the colonial rulers.
The late Mulu Mutiysa, Samuel Mundi Mbingu, and Paul Ngei are the notable freedom fighters from the Ukambani region.
Over the years since independence, Ukambani has remained politically active and relevant with some of its top leaders taking up top government positions.
Several Kamba top politicians have in the past years contested for the country’s presidential seat.
Here are 3 famous Kamba politicians who have made history and contested for the presidential seat.
1. John Harun Mwau
He became the first Kamba politician to contest for the presidential seat.
Mwau, a trained sharpshooter contested for the presidential seat in the 1992 general election.
He contested on his Party of Independent Candidates of Kenya but lost to retired President Daniel Arap Moi.
After losing the election, Mwau petitioned Moi’s win claiming that he had won the seat.
A critic of Moi’s government, Mwau went on to win the Kilome parliamentary seat in the 1997 general election.
He once served as the Director of defunct Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC).
In 2013, Mwau unsuccessfully contested for the Makueni senatorial seat.
He is rated among the wealthiest individuals in the country.
Mwau has often rubbished claims linking him to drugs peddling.
There are claims that the veteran politician could contest for the Makueni gubernatorial seat in 2022.
2. Charity Ngilu
She is the Kitui governor.
She was elected in the August 8, 2017 general election.
Ngilu became the first woman to contest for the presidential seat in the 1997 general election.
She contested the presidential seat on Social Democratic Party (SDP) but lost to retired President Daniel Arap Moi.
In 2002, Ngilu teamed up with other politicians and formed NARC which ended Moi’s 24-year rule.
3. Kalonzo Musyoka
He is the former Vice President and Wiper Party leader.
A lawyer by profession, Kalonzo joined active politics in 1983 and unsuccessfully contested for the Kitui North Parliamentary seat.
He won the Kitui North seat in 1988.
In 2002, Kalonzo was part of politicians who ganged up to end Moi’s 24-year rule.
In 2007, Kalonzo unsuccessfully vied for the presidential seat.
He emerged third in the disputed presidential election that led to chaos in some parts of the country causing deaths, destruction of property and displacement of communities.
Kalonzo has now declared an interest to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022.
The Kamba political kingpin says he has what it takes to succeed President Kenyatta in 2022.
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