Mathira MP: 74-year-old Granny Exudes Confidence After Gachagua’s Exit

Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua’s exit from the parliamentary race has seen a granny in Nyeri express optimism in succeeding him.

Gachagua was last Sunday picked as deputy president William Ruto’s running mate.

Ms Phyllis Wambura Maranga, 74, also known as “Shosh” (granny) by her supporters, stormed the political scene in 2017, defiantly proving that age is just a number.

She also made history by becoming the first woman to run for the Mathira parliamentary seat since the country’s independence.

Read: UDA Settles for Konyu MCA Wamumbi as Rigathi’s Replacement in Mathira

She was handed a direct Jubilee party ticket, and now says the seat is hers to lose.

Ms Maranga believes her opponents who she refers to as “greenhorns” will not beat her this time around.

She is confident she will represent the people of Mathira in the 12th Parliament as their 13th MP.

“In 2017 I came second to Gachagua and now that he is out of the way this seat is mine. I will demonstrate that even Shosh can win a parliamentary seat and I will represent the people of Mathira very well,” Ms Maranga said.

Read Also: Rigathi Gachagua It is! Ruto Picks Running Mate

On Saturday, DP Ruto endorsed a member of the Nyeri county assembly to fly the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party flag despite opposition from party members.

During a rally in Karatina Town on Saturday, he announced Konyu ward MCA Eric Mwangi Wamumbi as his preferred candidate.

The departure of Gachagua from local politics has opened the door for new blood to enter the race.

UDA had issued a notice last week announcing that people interested in running for the parliamentary seat should apply.

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Dr Ruto said on Saturday that the MCA was able to take over from Gachagua, describing him as a bold man who was one of the few who opposed the BBI when it was taken to Nyeri County.

“Now that I’m going with Gachagua to Nairobi, we have a young man here who can take up his role. He is brave because he was among the few MCAs who refused to be bribed and said they will not accept BBI,” said Dr Ruto.

Gachagua, for one, thought the MCA was the best fit, adding that he will continue to oversee the development projects he had started.

The public endorsement of the MCA by both Dr Ruto and Gachagua, however, failed to stir the large masses gathered in Karatina.

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Those who spoke with the Nation indicated that his opposition to the BBI should not be used as the sole criterion for evaluating him for such a high-ranking job.

Mr Wamumbi will now compete against four other candidates who have already hit the campaign trail.

Ms Maranga and Wamumbi will face off with Stanley Waruru Gikandi who is running on the Martha Karua led Narc- K party, Daniel Kiige, a former street boy, Karweru Kiragu of Usawa kwa Wote Party.