Over the years, Nakuru has produced influential firebrands who have shaped politics at both the county and national levels.

You cannot mention Nakuru politics without first mentioning Dickson Kihika who is the father of the current governor Susan Kihika.

He played a huge role in the resettlement of people within Nakuru. Mr Kihika was famously known for championing for the change of constitutional movement that wanted to bar Moi from ascending to office automatically upon the death of Kenyatta.

Read: Places in Nakuru where Mzee Moi left his footprints

Apart from this, he made history by becoming the first person to be elected to represent three different constituencies within Nakuru.

Another name you cannot miss to mention is the late Mark Mwithaga who was a member of parliament for Nakuru North.

Mwithaga became prominent during the Kenyatta regime as he was a pioneer freedom fighter.

He chaired the committee investigating the death of J.M Kariuki and despite his close relationship with Kenyatta, he was jailed because he took a strong position against the efforts of Kenyatta’s regime to cover the truth against the death of J.M Kariuki who was his close friend.

Read Also: How Nakuru rose to become Kenya's 'political capital'

The memory of Wilson Leitich evokes feelings of fear, anger and resentment among locals. Mr. Leitich was a local chairman of the KANU branch in Nakuru.

Wilson Leitich (right) was respected and feared in equal measure.

Photo credit: COURTESY

During the struggle of repealing section 2A of the constitution that was to abolish one party rule, he ordered the KANU youth wingers to carry knives and chop of the middle finger of those crusaders who were seen flashing two finger salute in favour of the multi-party democracy.

Kariuki Chotara perhaps stands alone as the greatest of all time in Nakuru politics. Just like Mark Mwithaga, he was also one of the freedom fighters who fought ferociously for the freedom of Kenya.

Chotara was one of the pawns used in the failed attempt to assassinate a fellow detainee who was none other than the first president of Kenya Jomo Kenyatta. It was during Moi’s era that Chotara exerted his influence on Nakuru politics.

Moi used Chotara as his point person in Nakuru and he was very effective in the elimination of the so called Nakuru Mafia which was a clique of wealthy politicians who sought to interfere with the succession of Mzee Kenyatta by Moi.

It was also through Kariuki Chotara that Nakuru became a bedrock of politics during the KANU regime as Chotara led a massive recruitment of KANU members in Nakuru and the larger Rift Valley.

These individuals came, saw and conquered. As a result, they left a huge influence during their time which is now reflected in the way Nakuru is viewed in the national political stage with the common saying, Nakuru ikiamua Kenya imeamua.

sanyabret@gmail.com

Here are the people who gave Nakuru the political influence she enjoys

Author Spotlight

Bret Sanya