Some people argue that destiny offers one an opportunity to turn right or left, but fate is a one-way street that is sometimes quite predetermined.
For David Waihiga Mwaure, a successful lawyer, businessman, and deacon who made history by contesting in the August 9 presidential election, luck has for several times eluded him in his quest for power.
The deacon was the first presidential candidate to concede defeat in the recently concluded polls and backed President-elect William Ruto even before the election was decided.
Mwaure finally garnered a paltry 31,997 votes accounting for one per cent of the total votes cast. But conceding defeat is a cycle he is familiar with. Nonetheless, he has the strength and will to always rise again and the faith that one day he will fulfill his heart's desires.
Molo Constituency Parliamentary Race
His journey to the presidential race was long and rocky and can be traced to two decades ago when he joined the murky world of politics in 2002.
Mwaure then advocated for a multi-party system of politics and was one of the frontrunners behind the abolishment of the one-party system that had sustained the late President Daniel Moi's reign of power for more than two decades.
"Agano Party came at a time when it appeared like going to heaven would have been easier than getting a nomination ticket. It was often given to those who were very well connected or had a lot of money," the politician recounted the era when Kenya African National Union (KANU) was the sole party countrywide.
In the run-up to the 2002 General Election, Mwaure joined the Molo Constituency Parliamentary race but quit before the election was concluded - citing logistical challenges.
Kamukunji Parliamentary Race
He made a second attempt in 2007 when he threw his hat into the Kamukunji Parliamentary ring in Nairobi County but once again, he stared right into the face of defeat.
Lamu Gubernatorial Race
After the upset, Mwaure shifted his base to the Coastal region where he set up a company and was once again in the race to become the first Lamu Governor under the Promulgated 2010 Constitution that introduced devolution.
He emerged third in the race which Issa Timamy was eventually crowned the winner.
High Court and Court of Appeal Judge Positions
Before announcing his Presidential run in March 2022, the lawyer unsuccessfully applied for the positions of High Court Judge and Court of Appeal Judge advertised by the Judiciary.
In the shortlisted candidates' list that was publicised in May 2022, the politician failed to secure interview invitations for any of the positions.
Presidential Race
He later laid low but resurfaced in 2022 beating 51 contestants who were disqualified from taking part in the Presidential race.
On August 14, a day before William Ruto was declared the President-elect, Mwaure conceded defeat and turned his focus towards the National Assembly Speaker post - the third most powerful position in the country after the President and his deputy.
National Assembly Speaker Contest
As fate would have it, however, he was also disqualified from the contest as he was part of the 19 contenders that successfully filled the nomination papers. Nearly nine others who applied did not return nomination papers.
Just like Mwaure beat 51 others in the presidential race where only four candidates contested for the first time in Kenya's history, only two candidates out of 30 who applied for the speaker's position were cleared for the post.
These were Azimio La Umoja's Kenneth Marende and Kenya Kwanza's Moses Wetangula.
Mwaure holds a Law Degree for the University of Nairobi (UoN) and has so far amassed 35 years of experience in the legal industry.
