Politics is said to be a game of the no-nonsense; it’s for the go-getters. In fact, the compassionate do not go far in politics. Kiambu county government boss William Kabogo qualifies to be a no-nonsense politician whose political career seems ‘not shakable’ by situations or individuals.
While he appears to court controversy everywhere he goes, Kabogo’s resolve to fight for political office is ever a flame.
In an unwavering determination, Kabogo has weathered monumental storms to be where he is, and on his way up he has stepped on quite a number of toes.
In 2002, he burst into the political scene literally from nowhere. Few people had heard about him, with many dismissing his candidature as elitist and ill-advised.
But when he lost out on the much-sought Kanu ticket, Kabogo decamped to the little known Sisi Kwa Sisi party. And when the last vote was counted, he was pronounced the Juja MP.
Kabogo used to his advantage the very same traits he was being vilified for – flamboyance and elitist mien – to popularize his candidature.
Come 2007 and Juja residents were treated to perhaps the best-oiled contest between Kabogo and George Thuo. When he lost to Thuo, Kabogo was not ready to take defeat lying down.
He successfully petitioned the election of Thuo and when the by-election was called, he buried his political nemesis with a landslide victory on a Narc-Kenya ticket.
Since he captured the Kiambu gubernatorial seat, he continues to make headlines.
Loved and hated in equal measure, Kabogo has continued to stiffen his political gear even after the ‘germination’ of a new rival ‘Ferdinard Waititu’ who happens to be the current MP in Kabete.
The current gubernatorial battle between the two has seen Kabogo fight ‘like a man’. He has gone to court to deteriorate Waititus’ move to vie for his current office.