Journalists now throw their hats into the political ring

 As the clock ticks towards the August General Election, several journalists have expressed interests in various political seats.

Last year, the Media Council of Kenya, through its Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo, said the body was reviewing guidelines that will ensure media owners and journalists interested in vying for elective seats resign six months to the elections.

The Elections Act requires public servants intending to vie for elective seats to resign by February - six months to the elections.

Omwoyo spoke while unveiling a 20-member technical team that is tasked to review election reporting guidelines ahead of this year's general election.

The team, which will be chaired by veteran journalist Joseph Odindo, will lead the industry to review and update its election guidelines.

Communication expert-cum-journalist Patience Nyange, radio presenter Felix Odiwuor alias Jalang’o, former Citizen Television senior political reporters Jackie Maribe and Kendagor Obadiah as well as former Nation Media Group journalists Isaac Ongiri, Nyambega Gisesa and Samuel Baya Kazungu are among those eyeing seats.

Renowned editor Eric Obino also wants to vie for the Nyaribari Chache Constituency seat.

PATIENCE NYANGE:

The Communication expert is eyeing the Taita Taveta County gubernatorial seat.

She has previously held various national posts including assistant director at Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, communications advisor at the Ministry of Devolution and Planning, and is currently a Media Council of Kenya board member.

Ms Nyange will fight it out with Governor Granton Samboja and a number of other seasoned politicians.

Among the hopefuls who want to oust the governor are former governor John Mruttu, former Senator Dan Mwazo, Mwatate MP Andrew Mwadime and lawyer Stephen Mwakesi.

Others are George Mwandembo and Norway-based businesswoman Rachel Mwakazi.

MARTIN MWANGI:

Martin Mbugua Mwangi, 42, a former sub-editor at the Sunday Nation who now runs the Mutuini Hope Centre, an orphanage that feeds and educates 150 children, is vying for the Mutuini Ward Seat in Dagoretti South under an undisclosed party.

The first-time contender says he is hopeful to clinch the seat as he brings to the table “people-oriented leadership”.

EVELYN WAITHERA MUITHIRANIA

The Kandara sub-county-born radio queen has been dominating Mt Kenya airwaves since 2003 in a journey that has seen her work for Coro, Kameme, Inooro and Kihoto FMs.

The 42-year-old quit the newsroom in 2017 to vie for the Murang’a woman representative's seat and lost to another journalist and her former workmate, Sabina Chege.

She says her vision is to promote real affirmative action in the county and lobby for transformative gender parity policies. She has not yet revealed the party she will vie on. Ms Muithirania will battle it out with Ms Waithera Kibinda, who has declared support for United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

STANLEY KARURI MWANGI

The Bachelor of Arts graduate from the University of Nairobi has been a scribe since 1989 but invested in his own weekly publication called The Explorer in 1993. He unsuccessfully vied for Karuri and Hospital wards in 1997 and 2007 and in all the elections he has been serving as Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga’s agent in Murang’a.

Mwangi, 61, says he seeks to be Murang’a Senator to ensure that devolved funds to the county are utilised to transform lives. He will battle it out with Joe Nyutu who is seeking the United Democratic Alliance party ticket, Mt Kenya MCAs Caucus chairman Mr Charles Ichagaki One, Ms Hellen Kigia Ngwanirira, who is yet to declare party affiliation, and former Senator Kembi Gitura.

ISAAC ONGIRI

Mr Ongiri, 39, who wants to run for the Kasipul parliamentary seat, quit journalism in 2017 to contest. If elected, he says he will ensure an elaborate educational funding program by creating an annual scholarship fund and an expanded NG-CDF bursary.

He will face current MP Ongondo Were and, among others, Okindo Majiwa, who also ran last time.

KENDAGOR OBADIAH:

The former Citizen Television senior political reporter will be seeking to capture the Kapenguria parliamentary seat held by Samuel Moroto.

He unsuccessfully ran for the seat in 2017 on a Maendeleo Chap Chap party ticket after quitting Citizen in 2016.

He says he has covered raids between the Pokot and Turkana, hunger facing his people as well as low standards of education. Obadiah lost to the incumbent Samwel Moroto.

JOHN MBUTHIA

John Mbuthia is vying for the Hongwe Ward representative position in Lamu County. He has been working for the Standard Group as a radio correspondent.

NYAMBEGA GISESA

This will be his third time on the ballot after making trials in 2013 and 2017.

In 2013, he emerged fourth after vying on a SDP ticket while in 2017, he was number two after vying on an ODM ticket. He went back to the newsroom after losing. He is vying for MCA in Rigoma Ward, Kitutu Masaba Constituency.

He will compete against the current MCA, Benson Sironga.

FESTUS AMIMO

The radio Mayienga morning show presenter will vie for the Nyando parliamentary seat.

He has been behind the microphone for over 15 years interviewing politicians.

The 40 year–old journalist said he will decide whether to contest on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) or Movement for Democracy and Growth whose party leader is Ugenya MP David Ochieng.

SAMUEL BAYA KAZUNGU:

Mr Kazungu, 44, a former Nation Media Group journalist, will be vying for the Bamba ward seat.  He is a close ally of outgoing Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi.

Mr Kazungu expressed confidence that he will clinch the Bamba MCA seat, a ward which borders Tsavo East National park.

JOSIAH MURIGO:

Josiah Murigo (36), a former Political reporter at K24 is contesting for a political seat for the second time in this year’s general elections.

He will be vying for the Kirinyaga senatorial seat under the UDA party ticket.

In 2017, he lost his bid to vie for the Kirinyaga Central Constituency’s seat after missing out on the Jubilee Party nominations.

Reporting by Eric Matara, Mwangi Muiruri, Rushdie Oudia And Ruth Mbula