Kenyan anti-corruption activist campaigns for parliamentary seat

Kenya’s most flamboyant anti-corruption activist, Boniface Mwangi is running for a parliamentary seat after years of enraging politicians in the country.

The fiery 33-year-old promises to force change from within if he wins a parliamentary seat in the August 8 elections when Kenyans choose a president, parliamentarians and local representatives.

But win or lose, his candidacy is attracting an unusual degree of national attention, and contributing to public anger over scandals rocking President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government.

Mwangi, who formed his own small Ukweli party, is not supporting any of the presidential candidates which include President Kenyatta, nor his chief rival, Raila Odinga who ran in the last two elections.

He is now campaigning against corruption and promising to continue his activism from the inside.

Instead of cash which is many times used to attract some voters in the country, Mwangi offers flyers and handshakes.

“You can actually be a leader and be a servant leader and not become like a leech eating off people like sucking people’s blood and becoming like, you know Kenya we have vampire leaders they suck
our blood everyday. I don’t want to be a vampire, I want to be a servant leader when I get elected?” he said.

Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta who himself is seeking a second five-year term acknowledges his administration has been slow to tackle corruption.

Late last year, he expressed his frustration with corruption but said his hands were tied.