Monday
May 23, 2011
May 23, 2011
Politics
By NYAMBEGA GISESA engisesa@yahoo.com
Posted Saturday, May 21 2011 at 23:21
Posted Saturday, May 21 2011 at 23:21
In Summary
- The police have portrayed Gidion Mbuvi as a corrupt and treacherous businessman, but his supporters see a man who is here to change their lot
It is fair to say that Kenya has never seen an MP quite like Makadara’s Gidion Kioko Mbuvi, better known as Mike Sonko.
The man who grabbed headlines in the past week with his starring role in a violent demonstration in the city was virtually unknown until mid-2010.
Around that time, residents of Eastlands began to wake up to billboards urging them to vote “Yes” in the referendum on the Constitution.
The billboards featured the photos of President Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka. Between them was a young man in a white suit they could not immediately recognise.
Mr Mbuvi, as they would eventually learn, was running for the vacant Makadara parliamentary seat. He won in an upset over the ODM candidate Reuben Ndolo and former MP Dick Wathika in the by-election.
Kijana wa mtaa
It was a stunning coup. And at first he received pleasant reviews because it seemed like he was a young man from the estate (kijana wa mtaa) who had come to breathe fresh air into city politics.
Then the dirt began to fly. Even in a country that has numerous MPs facing court cases, Mr Mbuvi seemed extraordinary.
He had, it was reported, escaped from Shimo la Tewa prison in Mombasa. Police began investigating whether this was the man who had pending legal matters in Kibera, Makadara and Mombasa courts.
Several people emerged to say that the man had defrauded them. It also emerged that a court had issued a warrant of arrest against him for jumping bail in a Sh18 million fraud case in 2005.
Later, he was cleared of dealing in drugs after being named as among high-profile people allegedly peddling drugs.
But despite this record Mr Mbuvi remained a darling of the poor in Eastlands, where his life story bears a resemblance to those of many young men with few opportunities.
In an interview with the Sunday Nation, the MP was his usual unapologetic self. “I am just me, and I fight to get what I want,” he said.
Sporting studs
Sporting studs
Since joining Parliament, the MP has consistently made headlines. Last month, he was ejected from Parliament for wearing sunglasses, sporting ear studs, and chewing gum.
“In the history of this world, since God created this earth, men have never imitated women,” Bumula MP Bifwoli Wakoli said during debate to eject the legislator from the august House for being too “flashy”.
Some Members of Parliament feel that he has gone too far with his antics and that he is becoming an embarrassment to Parliament. During a press conference last week, many of those present quietly walked out to avoid being photographed with him.
Assistant minister George Khaniri describes the MP as soiling “the dignity of the august House”.
But Mr Mbuvi is unapologetic. “I represent the youth, and they are my voters,” he said.
During the interview at Continental House, he was clean-shaven, dramatic and emotional in defending his actions.
“I don’t care what those who don’t agree with me say,” the MP said.
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