A former hawker in Nairobi’s Kawangware slum Robert Sifuna has defied odds and decided to compete with big names in a bid to succeed the National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula as the Senator of Bungoma County in a by-election whose date has not been announced by the Independent and Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
In an Exclusive Interview with The Weekly Vision at Kanduyi Highway hotel on Monday, Mr Sifuna said that he is ready to compete with former Bumula MP Mwambu Mabonga and other Senate aspirants in seeking to replace Mr Wetang’ula. Mr Sifuna called on the residents of Bungoma to back his bid asking them to do serious scrutiny before making a decision.
He said while hawking eggs on city streets he managed to raise Ksh. 48, 000 which enabled him to enrol at Mt Kenya University where he pursued a criminology course. However, he pointed out that while at the University he engaged in commercial Cleaning services while studying just to put food on the table and pay fee
The race for the senate seat has intensified; the youths in the county represented by Mr Sifuna are pushing their man to be on the ballot through the Ford Kenya party ticket. “This time round the youths will not be left behind in teams of representation to the senate, I will ensure that I win the seat and partner with other young leaders in this country,” Mr Sifuna added.Mr Sifuna formerly hawked eggs in Kamukunywa market in Bungoma County and Kawangware estate in Nairobi; he says he has had an interest in elective seats since his childhood.”I was born into a humble family in Bitobo village, Kimaeti Ward, Bumula Constituency in Bungoma County.
I went to school at Bitobo primary school before proceeding to Teremi high school where I passed my exams with flying colours in 2006 but could not join a university of my choice owing to my parent’s poverty level,” he said. Mr Sifuna added, “Soon after, life became unbearable at home I moved to Kamukunywa market where I started hawking eggs, things didn’t move well as I wanted, I later shifted to Nairobi for greener pastures but still, I didn’t get any job, I embarked in hawking eggs again”.
He said while hawking eggs on city streets he managed to raise Ksh. 48, 000 which enabled him to enrol at Mt Kenya University where he pursued a criminology course. However, he pointed out that while at the University he engaged in commercial Cleaning services while studying just to put food on the table and pay fees.Mr Sifuna revealed that he is currently running a charity organization known as One Africa which empowers Women and Youths across the Country. “I have the best interest of youths and women at heart, we are currently championing youth affairs in Bungoma, Nakuru, Nairobi, Kiambu, Isiolo, Kisumu and Mombasa,” Sifuna added.
The incoming politician stated that he is sure of winning the senatorial seat owing to his good rapport with grass root voters. “We will work together in developing the county by initiating sound development projects to offer jobs to youths and women” he said.
He observed that Bungoma County had been left out in terms of agriculture despite being the county’s bread basket. “I will work together with residents in developing the county through agriculture, we need farmers to get cheap farm inputs that will guarantee them good returns,” he said.
So far the seat has attracted 15 aspirants including Moses Wetang’ula’s aide Wafula Wakoli, businessman Joseph Lendrix Waswa and Jacob Machacha others are Rev.Herman Kasili, lawyer Erick Nakhurenya, Former Bumula MP Mwambu Mabonga among others.
By Brown Wafula
