As Kenyans tuned in to watch the Presidential Debates on Tuesday night, July 26, David Waihiga Mwaure was the sole candidate on the stage, after Prof George Luchiri Wajackoyah bailed out.
Mwaure is married to Lady Justice Anne Ngibuini Mwaure, the daughter of a former Member of Parliament and powerful ally of the late Mzee Daniel Moi, Davidson Ngibuini Kuguru.
Prior to vying for the presidency, Mwaure had taken a stab at various elective seats including unsuccessfully vying for the Kamukunji parliamentary seat in a 2011 by-election.
Politics runs in the family and many Kenyans have wondered whether the late Mzee Davidson Ngibuini Kuguru was the inspiration behind his son-in-law's presidential bid.
Mzee Ngibuini was the second Mathira MP and served as a Cabinet Minister in the KANU regime. He was born in 1912 and died on April 10, 1997.
Those who interacted with Mzee Ngibuini fondly remembered him for his development-oriented leadership when he served as Mathira MP.
Mzee Ngibuini’s influence started during the pre-colonial period when he worked closely with the colonial government and earned an excellence award from the Queen.
After Kenya attained independence, Mzee Ngibuini continued his political engagements and was elected as a Councillor - present day member of County Assembly (MCA) - and later as the MP for Mathira constituency in 1969.
In 1974, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta appointed Ngibuini as an Assistant Minister for Home Affairs and National Heritage, ostensibly deputizing then Vice President, Daniel Arap Moi.
After his ascension to the presidency, Mzee Moi appointed Ngibuini as Minister for National Heritage.
Mzee Ngibuini had immense wealth but he was a tough man and a disciplinarian who refused to give land to his children. A story is told that the former MP told his children they have to earn their inheritance through hard work.
His method yielded results since his children embraced education, studied in local public schools and charted great careers in the country and abroad.
He had seven wives who bore him more than 45 children and due to this high number, he told them that they had to work for their share of wealth and inheritance.
Peter Kuguru was one of the first children to buy land from his father in Kiamaina, Mathira constituency, while his brother, Maguta Ngibuini, purchased a tract of land in Muruguru, present day Nyeri Town constituency.
