Why Tim Wanyonyi’s candidature is a gamechanger in Nairobi

It is now official that Westlands Member of Parliament Tim Wanyonyi will be contesting the Nairobi gubernatorial seat in the 2022 general election.

Tim Wanyonyi is one of the highly rated legislators in Nairobi County and is about to complete his second term in office.

The official declaration has ended the speculations that have been going on for the last one year about the MPs next move.

He becomes the third person to show interest in the seat with Nairobi senator Johnson Sakaja and former Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru having indicated their interest.

Having served at City Hall as a councilor, Wanyonyi has exuded confidence that he has what it takes to turn Nairobi around.

He has asked Nairobi residents not to lose hope in the governance of the capital city, noting that the mistakes done by ex governor Mike Sonko should not be the basis of denying them the chance to have their own country boss of choice.

“ It is possible to turn around everything because Nairobi is governable as long as we get everything right  and that is why I am coming in,” said Mr Wanyonyi.

He has called on ODM delegates to have faith in him and nominate him for the seat which is going o be hotly contested,

“I want to urge all delegates to nominate me to go for the position as I believe I will be the party’s winning candidate in 2022,” he said.

The capital City is currently under the management of the Nairobi Metropolitan Services( NMS) whose tenure ends in April next year.

However, there is a possibility that current Deputy Governor Ann Kananu could become the third governor of Nairobi if the Supreme Court withholds the decision made by the appellate court to have her sworn in as Governor.

Political observers have opined that his candidature puts automatic weight to the gubernatorial contest which has otherwise been a dull affair.The Times understands that most poetential candidates have been timid about it because of the fate surrounding the NMS tenure and the future of Nairobi County.

There are fears that President Uhuru and ODM leader Raila Odinga could trigger the extension of the NMS contract. Potential candidates have further expressed fears that if the NMS contract is extended, the position of Nairobi governor could remain ceremonial.

According to Wanyonyi, Nairobi residents deserve the opportunity to determine their own leadership and has asked that the NMS should exit once its tenure ends.

“ Nairobi is listed as one of the counties and we all know that our constitution gives power to the people and so it is important they decide their own leaders via the ballot,”

He becomes the first ODM leader to show interest in the seat despite rumors that Makadara MP Geroge Aladwa is also interested.

Who is Tim Wanyonyi?

He has profiled himself as a man who believes in education and this has been his yardstick ever since he got into politics as a young enthusiastic leader.

To him, every hurdle in life comes with new possibilities and his attributes have been the benchmark for many leaders and institutions. Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi may not be so vocal politically but you are never going to miss him on your menu if you are focusing on matters development.

He leads a constituency of five wards;Kangemi, Deep Sea, Kibarage, Mji wa Huruma, Ndumboini and Githogoro.

Majority of the constituency is covered with informal settlement with many people depending on daily casual jobs to survive.

 Here are some of the key attributes and values the Times has been able to deduct from the life activities of the soft spoken legislator.

Patient man and  honest believer

His success journey is an interesting story that captures the essence of patience and trust which many young people must seek to adopt. This is a man who has revealed quite occasionally how he had to repeat several classes to pave the way for his older siblings to complete school.

 And even after joining Form One in 1979, he had to wait until   1983 to sit for his ‘o’ level exams instead of 1982.Despite having exelled,another rude shock came his way when he was told to go back to form three in 1984, so that his two sisters could also attend school.

The drama would not end there for him. After his ‘A’-levels, he was admitted to the University of Nairobi for a Bachelor of Arts programme but he declined and travelled to India, where he studied Law.

Such is the life of the MP to the extent that when majority of city residents have opined that he is the best man to take over the running of the capital city as the governor, he has been quoted severally in media outlets saying that 2022 is not yet the right time for him. He could be right.

Empowerment programs

Those who follow keenly events in Westlands must be aware of the famous Mradi Mitaani, an empowerment programme targeting the youths.They have to make proposals on development projects they would want support before the MP steps in with partners and the NG-CDF to boost them.

Some youth groups have benefited from  public address systems, tents, sewing machines, salon equipment and many others.

Community and Church activities

He is a man who has shown great and unending passion in working with the church and other faith based organizations.

He has joined friends and congregants for church services that culminate in fund raising to boost community work or even build more churches.

Some of the churches he has partnered with include Kabete Friends and ADC Matendo Church in Kangemi.

Education has been his main focus and it is not even easy to document the right number of schools he has refurbished or even built from scratch since 2013.

In May this year,unveiled   a  new Sh 29 million dormitory that can accommodate 120 pupils at  Westlands Primary .

The project was co-funded by Westlands CDF and Parents contributions. The two-floor building offers a lot of amenities, including study rooms, television room and a matron room.

Roads and infrastructure

He has consistently talked about the need to open up more access roads and why we must improve the infrastructure within our estates.

Mr Wanyonyi has recently facilitated the construction of lower kabete box culvert, recarpeting of 1st to 5th Parklands roads as well as Pramukh Sikh road through KURA.

Similarly, he has expedited the periodic maintenance of Westlands road, Muthithi road, Chiromo lane, Unga Lane, Woodvale Groove, Motio, Tausi, School lane, Karuna road, Muguga Green, Brookside drive, Gama Pinto and Brookside Garden roads.

In addition, under KURA’s Performance Based Road Maintainance Contracts, Mr Wanyonyi has furthered the speedy maintenance of Ojijo road, Parklands road, Lower Kabete road, Kirawa road, Peponi road, Limuru road, Muthaiga road, Getathuru road, Ngecha road, Redhill road part (Limuru road , Muthaiga road, Getathuru road, Ngecha road, Redhill road part (Limuru road-Ngecha road), UN avenue, Runda road, Kapenguria road, Kaptagat road, Loresho Ridge road, Kyuna road.

Other roads Hon Wanyonyi has accelerated their recarpeting include David Osieli road, Church road, Mvuli road, Woodvale Close, Rapta Road, Lantana road, Westlands Avenue, Sports road (Prof. Saitoti), Masari road, iregi road, Mtama road, Mwambao road, 6th Parklands avenue, Jalaram road, Shivachi road, Bhanderi road, Wambugu road, Wambugu groove, Wanglapala road, Muthithi road and Wambugu lane.

He ropened Githogoro Muringa road and Parklands Access Sports club road which were financed by KeRRA through the constituency roads committee.Speaking during the launch at Githogoro, Westlands MP called on the locals to make good use of the road for their economic gain.

“This road will open up this area for development. I urge Githogoro residents to take good care of this road. We have tarmacked this road in addition to the Githogoro Runda link road and Mji Wa Huruma access roads,” said the MP.

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