When Peter Karanja Mburu declared his interest in Naivasha’s Lake View Ward seat, many thought he was out of his senses and that he could not make it.
But that did not deter the youthful politician from traversing the ward on the campaign trail in seeking votes from the people.
Karanja says it was not an easy task owing to the fact that young people are not easily trusted when it comes to leadership. His campaign slogan was ‘Mabadiliko Sasa’ Swahili term translated to 'it is time for a change'.
“It was not an easy task since young people are not easily trusted by the old. But I was able to rally the Lake View Ward residents to give me their votes” he says.
When the 2017 August polls were held, Karanja, a graduate from St.Paul’s University in Business Administration and management, who vied on a Jubilee party ticket was declared the winner in a contest he says was strong owing to the fact that he was competing against the who is who in the area including the former MCA Simon Wanango.
The soft-spoken Karanja who has youths at heart says his victory surprised many who thought politics was all about the mighty and those with financial muscles.
He says his win was also attributed to the fact that he had been active in matters of politics, only that he was helping others in campaigns.
“What made me join active politics was to see challenges our people were facing addressed,” noted the MCA.
Karanja who is the chairperson of Disaster Management Committee in the Nakuru County Assembly says he is determined to bring change through leadership that ensures improved infrastructure, medical facilities as well as boost the education standards.
While in the assembly, the MCA has already made tremendous moves among them tabling of a motion to allow the opening of the corridors of Lake Naivasha that had been grabbed by private investors. The motion sailed through and the process is on to open up the corridors.
He says this is the only way to help the unemployed youths in the area that now depend on the lake for their economic empowerment.
Two years since he was elected, Karanja has been able to sponsor 12 needy students through full scholarship courtesy of his foundation, friends and Nakuru County Assembly Speaker Eng Joel Maina Kairu. He has also been able to sponsor 400 carpenters to have National Construction Authority (NCA) cards which cost Sh1,200 each.
For the fishermen in Naivasha, the MCA is in the process of developing more fish hatcheries to empower them.
Youths have not been left out as three teams have been sponsored among them Kihoto FC (County League), Pipeline Team (Sub-county league) and Superstar FC from Kayole (Sub-county league).
He is also appealing to the county government of Nakuru to consider development in Naivasha Sub County. According to him, the sub-county has been forgotten when it comes to matters development despite having contributed a lot in terms of revenue collection.
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