Former State House Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita while speaking on the ‘Engage’ podium on Thursday, August 10 recalled his struggles during the 2022 campaigns as an aspirant for the Machako’s gubernatorial seat under Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition.
Nzioka gave an account of his flow from the corporate world to politics and eventually vying for the gubernatorial seat in the 2022 General Elections.
He highlighted his experience during that period highlighting the dark side of politics, while also sharing the hard-learned lessons.
For starters, Nzioka said he was politically bullied and called a foreigner in his own home while also dubbed President Uhuru Kenyatta’s project.
“Huyu haongei Kikamba, born in Nairobi, what is he doing here? Look at his ears, height, and spending time with cows, he is a Maasai. He has no wife or children. He has come from Nairobi; he is Uhuru Kenyatta’s project…and he is like Alfred because he has a wife from Murang’a,” he recalled.
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The former State House aide narrated how he even suffered physical attacks during public rallies in his pursuit to become Machakos County governor.
Azimio Favored my Opponent
As if the external fights against him were not enough, Nzioka says some Azimio coalition party insiders plotted to have him fail from the time he announced his candidacy in February 2022.
He explained that they often favored his competitor current Governor Wavinya Ndeti.
Likewise, Waita Nzioka noted that he decided to buy the Chama Cha Uzalendo (CCU) part to secure his place in the race to succeed former governor Alfred Mutua to avoid participating in Azimio nominations.
Nzioka claimed that despite working hard to secure a place in the Azimio coalition, Wavinya Ndeti remained the coalition’s favorite candidate.
He added that some of the coalition leaders occasionally implored him to bow out of the race.
“I joined the coalition, maybe I should have thought a little harder, but I joined it because beliefs are constant and it is the coalition where we were,” he said.
Similarly, Waita says “I remember how once I was told Raila would come to Machakos and endorse my competitor. I asked, Good gracious! After all these meetings, begging people for money to support my campaigns, are these guys going to destroy me in one day? I said No and prayed.”
In addition, the former aide revealed how about 3,000 pastors prayed against his candidacy and even attacked him during an event in Machakos.
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“They didn’t want Raila to witness their plot. My bodyguard told me, ‘Boss ni kubaya’ as he held my hand. We were going towards the podium, and they started throwing things at me, it was a meeting of pastors, 3,000 pastors…they started throwing stones and said I was not invited,” he explained.
What Uhuru told Nzioka Waita
While admitting to hating politics in the past, Waita Nzioka stated that retired president Uhuru Kenyatta had advised him against joining the Machakos gubernatorial race.
“I hate politics to the bone, but I decided I wanted to be the man in the arena. Uhuru laughed when I told him I want to join politics,” he said.
Nzioka added that he was in WhatsApp groups where members hurled very personal insults, and posted photos of his family members, questioning whether he was the biological father of his children.
Furthermore, he said he is usually not easily intimidated but the insults kept his spirits low.
“My family would try to talk to me, and I tried to recharge but I couldn’t recharge every time I looked at the messages.” he lamented.
Nonetheless, Waita Nzioka said he has no regrets running for the Machakos governor’s seat, adding that he is also proud he made the difficult decision to concede defeat and acknowledge his competitor as the duly elected Governor.
