Former Comedian Walter Mong’are To Vie for the Presidency

Former Director of Youth and Development in the Office of the President Walter Mong’are alias Nyambane has entered the presidential campaign, promising to promote inclusive growth, boost transparency, accountability, and honesty.

Mong’are, a trailblazing Redykyulass and Red Kona comedian, told delegates after being endorsed by Umoja Summit Party during the National Delegates Convention (NDC) at Western Heights, Westlands, that he was inspired by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

He claimed that Zelenskyy, a comedian who later became president, is now his country’s improbable wartime hero in the struggle against Russian invasion.

“For a moment, he [Zelenskyy] imitated the president and he became one. I imitated the President and I, too, am becoming. As Umoja Summit, we shall continue to speak with one voice, because this is our land, country, and moment together,” said Mong’are.

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The Vijana Tugutuke champion urged the youth to participate actively in politics in order to shape their destiny.

“Eight is a number of new beginning, and, therefore, as a country, we have a new dawn. We shall not use sunroofs or stand on top of lorries and trucks to lecture the youth or dish out money. We shall have a sit-down and listen to them for their voices to influence the decisions we are making.  We shall not be making promises but giving them our commitment,” he said.

More youthful representation, as wanted by the government of Umoja Summit, will contribute to realistic solutions that progress development, he said.

“The youth, who for a large percentage of Kenya’s population hasn’t been accorded the opportunity to be in the table to influence policy that matters to them. We, thus, assure the Kenyan youth that Umoja Summit Party is your home; it is your vehicle. All we, as party leaders, have to do is to steer. Your thoughts, dreams, and plans will decide the direction it takes,” he continued.

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In response to claims that the presidential election is a two-horse race between Raila Odinga of the Azimio la Umoja and William Ruto of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, Mong’are slammed his rivals’ early campaigns and asked for respect for the rule of law.

“We believe that we are not late into the race for the presidency. Our symbol is a pot because we are cooking great things for Kenya and thank like-minded individuals who have joined us from other parties,” he said.

“There are those who have been campaigning outside the legal period – if we are going to pride ourselves as a country whose people respect the law, then we must respect IEBC and the calendar of elections. Have no fear, we are not late, voting is on August 9.”

Mong’are resigned from government in February.

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Then, he told the Standard that ‘It will not give value to the future generation,’ as he expressed his unhappiness with prevailing political ideas.

“At my age, I believe that we need to propagate some things afresh. There is no value addition by jumping into bandwagons,” he said.

“The political outfit (party) that I will run on is still under consideration. At the moment, I have not made the final decision, it is still in the works.”