Meru County MP Hon. Bishop Kawira Mwangaza, aside from her in-depth knowledge in the management of public funds, is touted as a development genius for the various initiatives she has put in place to empower the residents of the county.
Speaking in several carwashes in Meru Town, where she donated over 100 giant umbrellas to women traders, bursaries to over 40 youths, capital to start businesses, and hundreds of gumboots, Kawira said that Meru Governor Kiraitu’s officials are approaching her in the middle of the night, confessing that they know Kiraitu will be deposed and that they are on her side.
“Kiraitu claims that the Meru Town stage renovations cost Sh1 billion, which begs the question of why such a large sum was used given that there are no toilets, stairs, or modern houses. I stated that I do not want to take shortcuts in development, and Kiraitu believes that he can manipulate me, as he did with the young Buuri MP, so that I will drop out of the race,” she said.
Kawira said that despite the youth being used in a bad way by Kiraitu to smear her name, she still adored them. She said Kiraitu Murungi had attained an advanced age and should drop out of the race to make room for her.
Kawira said that if Kiraitu wants to give advice, he should do so in retirement.
“When I am elected governor, the first thing I will do is seek a favorable environment in which the youth working in carwashes can conduct their business. Many public lands in Meru County have been grabbed, with Kiraitu taking the lead. The public lands in North Imenti alone are large enough to accommodate modern carwashes,” she said.
Kawira promised that if elected governor, she would reclaim the stolen public lands and make certain that modern carwashes were built on the repossessed public lands.
She said that despite the fact that the county government had not sponsored a single car wash in Meru County, county officials claimed that Kiraitu Murungi was a crocodile that is still in the water.
“When I build modern carwashes on repossessed public lands, I will create a plethora of job opportunities for our youth. I am addressing in parliament the issue of a road expansion that passes by a carwash venture run by youth in North Imenti,” Kawira said.
According to Kawira, when the road is expanded, the youth will be out of work because the carwash will be demolished to make way for the road expansion, and no alternative location has been provided.
She said Kiraitu expected the youth to earn their living by giving them printed t-shirts with writings that he is a crocodile that is still in the water.
“The car washes that I will build will allow the youth to work without fear. During our forefathers’ time, the county council looked for land in Gakoromone village and established the juakali sector. Our fathers rely on it as a source of income because the government provided for them at the time,” she said.
Kawira said she was curious how many structures Kiraitu Murungi’s government had constructed that were similar to those constructed by the county council during our forefathers’ time.
“Despite receiving a small budget from the national government, I was ranked first among Kenya’s best-performing women representatives. What if I become governor and have access to more resources? Kiraitu has stolen and stashed a large amount of public money, and when he discovers that the youth are complaining, he distributes the money in small amounts,” Kawira said.
Kawira reassured Kiraitu that she would not withdraw from the gubernatorial race and woul vigorously compete with him until they meet on the ballot.
She said that Kiraitu had raised flags with crocodile images in Meru County, yet residents witnessed sewage spills and garbage dumps everywhere.
“I would like to be given a list of 20 young people who will be enrolled in courses and expected to start classes right away. Kiraitu had earlier used the carwash chairman to insult me, but because I am a mother who understands, I have forgiven him,” she said.
According to Kawira, the youths working in carwashes had been suffering for a long time because they had been working without shoes despite being in contact with water.
“I have no grudges against anyone, and all I want is for Kiraitu Murungi to be able to retire in peace. Today, I have enrolled 20 young people in various courses. I stated that I would not purchase shoes for the residents of Meru County because our roads are in poor condition. I chose to buy gumboots because they are the best option for our roads,” she said.
Kawira said that because one of the carwashes at the Kwa Nthambi Stage in Meru Town was a registered group, she would plant a seed of Sh15000 and seek additional funding for the group when she returned to her office.
“When I become Governor, I will reintroduce what my forefathers’ municipal council did when they built Juakali structures on public lands so that residents could earn an income,” she said.
Kawira said that for a long time, Kiraitu had exploited the youths of Meru County as they had been washing cars barefoot, yet they yelled that Kiraitu was a crocodile that was still in the water.
She said did not want a situation in which the youth were used while washing cars barefoot, and when they become ill, she would be expected to take them to hospitals that have no medicine.
“I will then be forced to hold a Harambee for the youth, which Kiraitu has stated he does not want to be invited to, and I will be carrying a heavy burden in the end. I stated that I would use the little money that my office has to dress the young people who work in car washes so that they do not get sick from the cold,” she said.
She said that gumboots would allow them to arrive at work early in the morning and begin working immediately.
Kawira said that the Meru County residents were yet to see development because when she becomes Governor, it would resemble Canaan, complete with modern carwashes.
