@Alicewangechi
Six candidates who unsuccessfully vied for Kanyenya-ini MCA seat in Kangema constituency, Murang’a, have received support from a well-wisher to help them recover economically after the gruelling campaigns.
The six who vied through various political parties gave harrowing stories of how their lives changed after they lost in the elections.
But Ahadi Kenya Trust CEO Stanley Kamau congregated them at Ichichi village in the constituency where he donated 50 chicks to each of them to help them restart their lives.
They were also provided with feeds enough to last the chicks for a month.
Kamau said his decision to support the candidates stemmed from the stories he heard on the challenges that the aspirants faced as they sought to reintegrate with the community following their poll loss.
Some, he said, have lost their friends and their partners after exhausting their finances in their campaigns and with little to do to bounce back.
“Some candidates are closing down their businesses. Life has become extremely hard for majority of them. Do not laugh at their stories because vying is not a crime. They were just looking for an opportunity to serve and empower their families,” he said.
He said vying for a political seat is like going for a job interview and that candidates should not be punished for failing.
He urged members of the community to support them as they try to piece their lives back together and understand that they used up their finances to look for votes.
Kamau also donated a dairy cow to one aspirant who stepped down in favour of the area MCA-elect Grace Nduta.
“Today, I decided to support them so that if the current MCA does not perform, they will have regained their strength to vie for the seat again in 2017.”
He advised them to stop engaging in politics and focus on rebuilding their lives as they wait for the next elections.
Kamau said he has started the campaign to support elections losers to help them get over their loss, adding that he will extend it to other parts of the county and country.
“If your partner spend all your family's money to conduct campaigns, don’t leave them, pray for them to find ways of making more,” he added.
The philanthropist further appealed to the politicians to ensure they continue with charity projects that they had started.
He said it is shameful that some former legislators who lost in the elections abandon projects that communities were depending on simply because they were not re-elected.
Many of them, he said, carried out sponsorship programmes that benefited children from needy families, and who will suffer if they stop supporting them.
“Don’t start a project so that people can vote for you. Initiate a project that you can sustain even when not in a political position.”
Kamau also donated foodstuff and blankets to the old in the village to cushion them from hunger following spike in cost of food prices.
One of the six candidates, George Kinyanjui, narrated how his permanent home was burnt down twice destroying all his belongings during campaigns.
This, he said, was also a few weeks to his wedding but noted that he was able to wed and continue with his campaigns despite living in a rental.
He said many insinuated that his opponents were behind his predicaments but he noted that he had no suspect in mind.
The young politician who is a teacher by profession was however reprieved when Kamau gave him Sh200,000 to help him rebuild his home.