Kikuyu MP Anthony Kimani Ichung'wa is a first-time politician and he’s become a personality to reckon with in Kiambu’s political circles.
He was elected on The National Alliance Party (TNA) ticket and serves as the Vice - Chairman of the Public Investments Committee (PIC) in parliament.
He also is a member of the committee of Powers and Privileges and the Departmental Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Co-operatives in parliament.
Ichung’wa has of late become very vocal and his utterances have led to some people thinking that his demeanour in the political affairs of the county is to propel him to the governor’s position in the county.
If this was to happen, then Kiambu County would have an overcrowded race as many more people have expressed interest to unseat the incumbent William Kabogo.
However, Ichung’wa could be having a bigger plan as he has been at the forefront in showing support for Deputy President William Ruto.
The MP has been defending the DP on many occasions and this is being interpreted in some circles as Ichung’wa’s interest in becoming Ruto’s running mate in 2022.
Early last week, Ichung’wa reaffirmed that people from the Mt Kenya region will rally behind Ruto in his 2022 presidential bid.
He said utterances made by nominated Senator Paul Njoroge rubbishing Central Kenya’s support for Ruto’s presidency were misinformed and mean nothing.
“We are stating clearly that come 2022, we will be behind Ruto and he will be the fifth President of this country. We are with him and nothing or no one will change that,” he said on Tuesday.
Could he deputise Ruto in 2022?
Already, a plan by some Central Kenya leaders to have Kiambu Governor William Kabogo be Ruto’s running mate in 2022 have been vehemently opposed.
With a cocktail of factors, the DP position in 2022 could go to anyone but Tigania East MP Mpuru Aburi in June said the plan on who will succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta when he retires in 2022 was sealed in 2013 and anybody trying to alter the deal will not succeed.
“That is a done deal. We are behind Uhuru until 2022. After that we will rally behind William Ruto and Kithure Kindiki (Senate majority leader) as his deputy,” he said.
Ichung’wa has been very critical of Kabogo and with other MPs from the region, they have teamed up to pressure the governor to deliver or quit. Thika’s Alice Ng’ang’a, Kabete’s Ferdinand Waititu are among MPs pushing the governor to account for billions of shillings the county receives from the national government.
It is a poker game and Ichung’wa is playing his card close to his chest but as some think, he is the fastest rising politician in Kiambu politics.
They also think he portends the greatest threat to Kabogo but Ichung’wa has not explicitly shown his intentions for the seat.
So, is he for the governor’s seat to propel his career to being the DP? For the answer, only time will tell.
The 40-year-old economist grew up in Gikambura Village of Karai Location He went to Kikuyu Township Primary school and then proceeded to Alliance High school.
He has studied at Strathmore’s school of Accounting and graduated from the University of Nairobi with an Honours degree in Economics in 2000.
As a University student, he participated in the struggle for a new Kenya that culminated in the enactment of the IPPG reforms.