[Walter Mounde in a past event. He has been cleared to run for Nyamira senatorial seat]
Nyamira County Senatorial aspirant Walter Mounde yesterday promised to prioritize the empowerment of women and youth if elected to office.
He said he would use the position to lobby for the disbursement of more funds to enterprises operated by the vulnerable groups.
Mr Mounde vowed to ensure that the 30 percent tender rule for women, youth and the disabled became a major pillar during his term in office.
The 24 year old Amani National Congress candidate who is a first time entrant into the race said his candidacy was a sign of changing political trends in the region.
Speaking to the Nation after being cleared by the IEBC to run for the seat yesterday, Mr Mounde said he would strive to ensure the voice of the youth was heard in the senate.
“Since independence, our region has been known for electing elderly candidates but my win in the ANC primaries shows that voters are ready to give youth a chance. I will strive to ensure the concerns of the youth are properly articulated in the Senate,” said Mr Mounde.
He said he had to fight off attempts by established politicians to wrest the ticket from him, saying the support of constituents kept him focused on his mission.
“There was sustained pressure from older politicians, especially after losing in the ODM primaries, to take my ticket, but my supporters and I stayed put and ensured my nomination win was ratified by the party headquarters,” said Mr Mounde.
The Gender and Development Studies graduate from the University of South Eastern Kenya said he had been involved in student leadership, starting from the institution where he was student union president.
“I was union president in the university as well as the organizing secretary in the Kenya University Students Organization (KUSO), an inter-university organization. In 2016, I was elected the KUSO organizing secretary, a position which I will retire from at the end of this month,” he said.
Mr Mounde said the inter-university organization’s leaders had taken the initiative to vie for various seats countrywide.
“Our KUSO chair, Babu Owino, is vying for the Embakasi East constituency, while our patron Steve Mbogo is in the race for Starehe constituency. As the organizing secretary, I am in the running for the Nyamira Senate, meaning that our organization was serious about revolutionizing leadership in the country,” said Mr Mounde.
He said voters in the region were tired of recycling old leaders who had no new agenda for the region’s development.
“We are tired of voting in the same old leaders who make the same old promises which they never fulfill once they are sworn into office. Our people will only elect leaders with potential and a proven track record,” said the aspirant.
He said his record in youth mobilization, civic education and social work had established his credentials among voters.
“I have participated in civic education campaigns, voter awareness drives and even anti-jigger campaigns, establishing a support base in the entire region that will guarantee me victory,” said the candidate.
He appealed to voters to discard stereotypes that his youthfulness was an indicator of inexperience.
“As the arguably youngest senatorial aspirant, I look forward to setting an example of youthful excellence and commitment to servant leadership if elected. Voters in the region should elect youthful candidates if they need a real difference in the way their concerns have been handled by leaders,” he said.