After his re-election for the second and last term in office as the Machakos Governor, Alfred Mutua has made several trips outside his county more than ever. He had during his 2017 gubernatorial campaigns promised Machakos residents a lot including food security, improved health, jobs for unemployed youths, fresh water, education among others not forgetting his ambition to be the Kenyan President in 2022.
Despite these promises among others, most residents and politicians from the county and entire Ukambani Region have got mixed reactions whether Governor Mutua's frequent bench marking tours of other counties are developmental oriented or strategy to mobilize votes for his presidential candidature ahead of the 2022 polls.
Are they political or development oriented?
1. Political Strategy
Governor Alfred Mutua has severally publicly announced his aim and bid for the presidency come 2022 elections. He has therefore resorted to inter-counties "bench marking" tours of these counties as he seeks political fame hoping that if woed, electorates from the visited counties will vote him during the next general polls.
On March 16, 2018, the governor held a meeting with Maendeleo Chap Chap party delegates in Nakuru at the Alphs Hotel, agenda being the Party's political future, youths and women involvement in party matters. Mutua later visited Baringo County and attended a thanks giving party of the Baringo Central MP Joshua Kandie who was elected on a Maendeleo Chap Chap Party ticket in 2017. The governor who doubles as the party's chairman held several meetings with various leaders from the region before he addressed the residents.
"With me there will be peace linked with development for "mwanainchi" and not for selfish gains for few individual. I'm a humbled background born person 'ninaweza hii kiti' [I can manage this seat] "presidential seat," Mutua said while addressing residents in Baringo County.
2. Development.
On April 5, 2018, Mutua welcomed Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga to Machakos County. He later toured Nyeri County for development matters where he visited Wakulima Dairy Ltd in Mukurwe-Ini, Chinga Dam and Nyeri Water and Sanitation Company, 'NYEWASCO'. "Leaders must be servant oriented to benefit "mwanainchi", we are both Kenyans and we suffer similar problems. I have seen your governor's work, it is impressive. We have bench marked a lot from you Kahiga," Mutua said while addressing locals in Nyeri town.
Recently, on April 12, 2018, Mutua and his senior officers from Machakos County Government arrived in Kakamega for a two - day tour. The areas they visited included; the proposed Kakamega Referral Hospital and Matungulu smart dairy farm. "I am impressed with "mheshimiwa" Oparanya's programme. "Oparanyacare" that promotes women's health. It's impressive and this is what Kenyans need, I will do that back home," Mutua said at Kwhwisero in Kakamega County.
With all these facts, it is upon an individual to make a conclusion whether Governor Mutua's tours of other counties are development oriented or political.
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