Businessman turned politician Stanley Livondo has managed to maintain a low profile after vying unsuccessfully for the Kakamega county senatorial seat in last year’s election.
Prior to taking a stab at western Kenya politics the man christened “Mr Moneybags” by those close to him ran in Langata and Kamukunji constituencies in 2007 and 2013 respectively and lost.
Livondo made headlines in 2007 when he disrupted the then Ikolomani mp Bonny Khalwale’s meeting when he arrived in a chopper and started spraying cash on the crowd that had gathered.
The former chair of professional boxing of Kenya from 2002-2007 and at one time a dorm prefect at Kakamega high school was once a subject of scrutiny and mockery with his political opponents questioning his ability to provide competent leadership due to his lack of academic credentials beyond 0-level.
He however responded to the aspersions by stating that “leaders are born and not created by academic papers”.
On the run-up to the 2017 election, Livondo caused a stir when he sensationally claimed he was ready to bankroll his main opponent’s senator Cleophas Malala’s campaigns because he lacked “financial stamina”.
He also claims to be an avid businessman with huge interests in farming, real estate, and the hospitality industry.