The Kalonzo Musyoka You Don't Know Part II

Continued from yesterday


What exactly is Kalonzo Musyoka up against in John Harun Mwau?

To answer that question, a close analysis of the man is necessary.

John Harun Mwau is probably the most high profile and controversial figure in Kenya today, who remains shadowy with very little known about his background and how he rose from humble beginnings to become one of the richest men in a country where more than half of its citizenry live below the poverty line.

Those who have attempted to investigate the billionaires' past have been met with threats from himself and aides who swiftly inform the inquisitive minds that his past is not important and they should dwell on the present and the future, or else…

According to scanty details which his insiders reveal is that Mwau was born about fifty years ago in Ruiru to a single Kikuyu woman who was so poor that she shared her humble one roomed tin shark with two goats and the young John Harun.

In his formative years, Mwau is said to have been aggressive and was always picking fights with his peers who made fun of him since he came from a single parent home and did not know who is father was.

This is said to have affected the young John so much that he swore he would one day leave the life of poverty and squalor and join the big league of the rich and famous.

It was also during this time that he realized that he had marksmanship skills as he felled several birds with a catapult, which had become his constant companion.

In his mid-20s, Mwau joined the police force as a constable and rose through the ranks swiftly mainly because of his shooting skills and was among the first Africans to participate in the commonwealth shooting competition.

It was also during this period that he traveled widely representing the country in numerous competitions abroad and managed to make several business contacts while others say he also got an opportunity to make acquaintances with underworld figures.

He managed to rise to the rank of chief inspector prior to being sacked from the police force for what was termed as gross insubordination as a result for refusing to shave his beard citing the flimsy reason that he had a skin condition that worsened with shaving.

It is said he then went low profile for about two years before he emerged as a major importer of electronics from the middle east and Europe and was also in the process of starting his own bank and other businesses which many believe are just fronts for his drug operation which is said to extend to Europe and Asia.

Today, Mwau is among the wealthiest Kenyans to the extent that he sometimes spends more than 10 million shillings in a day as he contributes to development projects of his choice, mainly in Ukambani.

A case in point was in 2002 when he attempted to contest the Kilome parliamentary seat in Ukambani where he spent millions daily for about a month of campaigns but due to his arrogant nature, lost by nearly 10,000 votes to Mutinda Mutiso who managed over 12,000 votes while Mwau settled for about 2,000.

It was the first time in Kenyas electioneering history where a candidate used satellite phones to communicate while helicopters hovered all over in a bid to impress the voters but the poverty stricken people of Kilome rejected the boss as he is popularly known as this days. Thanks mainly to the campaign activities of one Kalonzo Musyoka.

This incident proved that Kalonzo has clout in Ukambani constituencies that are miles away from his Mwingi home.


To Be Continued Tomorrow.