How Kenyan Youths are Winning Elections

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The 24-year-old, Cynthia Muge who contested in the Kenyan Parliamentary as an independent candidate because she lacked the funds to obtain the Jubilee Party’s nomination form,yet she defeated five men to secure the Member of Country Assembly (MCA) seat in Kilibwoni Ward, Nandi County.

Cynthia Muge

Muge’s chances looked so slim that even her own mother advised her against running. Without the funds, the University of Nairobi graduate devised a social media and house-to-house campaign strategy. She polled 8,760 votes, while her closest competitor, Wilson Kiptanui of Jubilee Party, garnered 8,354 votes. She joins five other women in taking six of the 30 assembly seats available in Nandi.

 

 

Mwirigi Crushes Bigwigs to emerge winner

Paul Mwririgi

If Muge’s story is enthralling, another’s is simply intriguing. John John Paul Mwirigi, 23, 'broke', jobless and an orphan, ran without a party against veteran politicians boasting membership of established political parties. He emerged winner, polling 18, 867 against Jubilee Party’s Rufus Miriti, who had 15, 411 votes. Three other seasoned politicians —Mwenda Mzalendo (7,695 votes), Kubai Mutuma (6,331 votes) and Raphael Muriungi, a Deputy Governor, two-tome ex-MP and former Assistant Minister (2,278 votes) — placed nowhere near himThe sixth child of eight children from his parents, Mwirigi still lives in his family home — a local granary in the community! He printed no campaign posters, and prosecuted his door-to-door campaign on foot until his former colleagues bought him a motorcycle.

 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)