Former Kamukunji Parliamentary aspirant Mercy Wanjiru Mwangi has revealed that she lives in a shanty now after spending all her resources in the 2007, 2013 and 2017 political campaigns.
Speaking exclusively to Kenyans.co.ke on Sunday, January 9, Wanjiru, who has been protesting in Nairobi CBD and is seeking an audience with President Uhuru Kenyatta, noted that she sold her land valued at Ksh6 million in Murang'a and used the money to popularise the Head of State's party in her constituency.
She explained that she went full force during the campaigns because Uhuru had promised the women who were seeking electoral positions in the now-defunct The National Alliance (TNA) that he would offer them positions once the party got into power.
Since joining politics in 2007, Wanjiru noted that she used her resources to campaign for the party in the three elections but has never enjoyed any returns.
"I started politics in 2007 by contesting a civic position in Shauri Moyo, Kamukunji. I encountered a lot of irregularities such as through beatings. The primaries were not fair at all.
"When it came to the TNA time, in 2013, I vied for the Kamukunji Parliamentary Seat. My opponent was Yusuf and he was in the hospital. The President assured us that if we lost elections, we should continue supporting the party and him since the state had so many positions especially for the few women who were vying. He assured us that he had positions that we would all fit," Wanjiru stated.
She also recounted that during her time in active politics, she was often beaten up and that a neighbour sustained a gunshot wound from goons who were baying for her blood.
The city politician, however, never gave up even though the nomination exercises were marred with irregularities. She noted that she would spend as much as Ksh100,000 a day on roadshows with the goal of ensuring Uhuru clinched power.
At one point, she spent Ksh50,000 in buying meals for TNA team that was working late as the election day neared and supplied a full truck with over 3 million pieces of glue.
"I decided to direct all my resources (to the campaigns) and even sold my shamba (land) to participate and help him. I first sold my land in Murang'a for like Ksh6 million. I directed all the resources to ensure that we sell the party in my constituency.
"Whatever I was doing, was for the party and the President, I was doing it for our success and I did not get any position. I would like him (President Uhuru) to help me since I directed all my resources to the party. Whatever he will see is good for me, I will appreciate," she added.
Wanjiru has been protesting near the Office of the President and vows to carry on until her plight is heard.
After losing the elections in both 2013 and 2017, Wanjiru ran into hardship and has been unable to settle her children's school fees and lives in a shanty.
She noted that one of her daughters was forced to drop out of a local university due to a lack of school fees.
"Two of my vehicles were auctioned. One was part of the campaign trail. Another matatu was auctioned. I lost everything. I even live in a shanty that was already auctioned in Kiambu.
"Sometimes I go live with my children. I am even unable to pay school fees for my children since then. Some are in Primary and others at the University which I struggle to pay. One of my girls left university since I was unable to cater for her," she continued disclosing that she has been listed under Credit Reference Bureau (CRB).
She is also seeking to sensitise women looking to join politics to be smart about how much resources they use for campaigns.
Wanjiru, however, reveals that she is interested in running for the Kamukunji Parliamentary seat in the 2022 General Election but decries lack of resources. She would like to change laws so that political parties are held accountable for not fulfilling the promises they make to their members.
"I would also like to sensitise all women not to use up all their resources because politics is a dirty game sometimes. We have conmanship in politics. I was made a victim and sometimes no one recognises you," she concluded.
