Ever
heard the saying “if one wants something, he’ll find a way”? Well that
aptly summarizes the inspirational grass-to-grace story of John Paul
Mwirigi, who just broke Kenya’s record for the youngest elected member
of parliament. He is yet to turn 24.
Mwirigi ran against veteran
politicians who are members of established political parties, yet he
managed to secure a resounding victory, polling a total of 19 366 votes
(39.39%) and will soon be headed off to represent his people in Nairobi,
Kenya’s capital city.
POOR FAMILY, ‘POOR’ CAMPAIGN
Mwirigi
is the sixth child of eight children from his parents. He still lives
in his family home – a local granary in the community.
His
campaign may well be the cheapest in the history of Kenyan politics.
Reports had it that the youngster printed no campaign posters because he
was broke and could not afford it.
To make up for his lack of
cash, Mwirigi opted for a door-to-door campaign and according to
reports, he knocked on the doors of almost every household in his Igembe
South constituency.
Also, Mwirigi told reporters that he carried out
his campaign home visits on foot until he received support from his
former colleagues – commercial motorcycle operators also known as boda
boda (or in Nigeria, okada) riders.
Mwirigi said he usually rode boda boda whenever he was on holiday in order to raise money.
I HAD A DREAM
Speaking
to newsmen shortly before the elections, Mwirigi said he first
expressed interest in politics while in Form 3 (Nigeria’s equivalent of
Junior Secondary three) at Kirindine Day Secondary School.
“I had
a dream where I was tabling a motion in parliament while I was in Form
3. That is when I started asking my fellow students to start campaigning
for me since I would need their vote in 2017.
“I have held
leadership positions in school and in my neighbourhood. Since I come
from a humble background, I understand the issues that affect the
residents. My key agenda will be to transform the lives of the people.
Mwirigi said his first agenda would be supporting agribusiness activities, promote entrepreneurship and nurturing talents.
DEFEATED CURRENT DEPUTY GOVERNOR, RULING PARTY
Mwirigi’s
victory can best be likened to the popular innuendo of man biting a
dog. Among his many contenders was Raphael Muriungi, a veteran
politician by all standards who is currently the Deputy Governor of Meru
County.
Muriungi, a graduate of the University of London, was
also former Member of Parliament between 2003 and 2007 as well as former
Assistant Minister of Tourism from 2005 to 2008.
But all those
counted for nothing as he finished fifth in the election with a paltry
2,202 votes, many places behind the undergraduate Mwirigi.
The
closest challenger to Mwirigi was Joseph Mwereria of the Jubilee Party,
which is President Uhuru Kenyatta’s party. He scored a total of 15 977
votes, more than 3000 less than Mwirigi.
NOT TOO YOUNG TO RUN
Mwirigi’s
electoral victory has yet again added another fillip to the ongoing
agitation for the removal or lowering of the constitutional age
requirement for running for elective positions in Nigeria.
Nigeria
appears to be the biggest African country where it is very difficult, if
not impossible, for young people to run for elective positions.
In
the recently concluded general election in Ghana, history was made when
Francisca Oteng-Mensah, a female law student, defeated an incumbent
lawmaker to become Ghana’s youngest ever legislator at the age of 22.
As
it stands currently in Nigeria, one is not eligible to run for a seat
into a state house of assembly or the house of representatives until one
is 30 years old. To run for the senate, one must have attained the age
of 35 and for Presidency, 40.
However, a constitutional amendment
to reduce the age requirements has been approved by both chambers of
the National Assembly. The amendments also include provision for
independent candidature in the electoral process. The President is yet
to sign the amendments into law.
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