After a by-election that was mired in controversy George Koimburi under the People's Empowerment Party (PEP) was declared the winner of the highly-contested Juja parliamentary seat.
The soft-spoken MP-elected won in what could be described as a landslide after clinching 12,159 votes, followed by his Jubilee opponent Susan Waititu, who came a distant second with 5,746 votes.
This was the first race he successfully completed having been edged out in 2017 by the late MP Francis Waititu (Wakapee) while vying on a Farmers’ Party ticket.
At the time, he faulted the incumbent for using the government officials and machinery in his campaigns.
He claimed that the MP had been using bursaries and relief food as his campaign items and criticized the area Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) for being dragged into politics.
After losing the elections he served as the Kiambu County Liquor Licensing Board Chairman under the tenure of former Governor Ferdinand Waititu where he was in charge of the issuance of licenses to bar operators.
He also sought to ensure that only legalized alcohol was sold in the county.
Koimburi saw to implementation of the county alcohol law that was geared towards curbing the sale of illicit brews in the county while ensuring that licensed traders reap maximum benefit from their trade.
In 2019, he would resign from the post citing frustration and highhandedness by the County government operators.
He stated that although he supported the fight against consumption and manufacturing of illicit liquor in the county, he was not in agreement with the way the County Enforcement Officer and his team were approaching the crackdown on liquor sales.
He further claimed that goons had taken over the management of the liquor licensing court.
Koimburi would later throw his hat back into the political ring following the demise of Wakapee. At the time he was in the Jubilee party before he jumped ship after the MP's Widow Susan Waititu was handed the party ticket.
He explained his defection to Moses Kuria's People’s Empowerment Party (PEP) as a better chance for him to replace the former Juja MP Francis Waititu (Wakapee).
"I defected because I stand a better chance in PEP. My defection should not be seen as bringing war between the government and the tanga tanga brigade. I still respect the President and his government," he stated.
His victory is set to shake up the succession plan in the Mount Kenya region in readiness to the 2022 general elections.
