Dear candidate, We understand that you are planning to vie for Githobokoni Ward County Representative post.

In view of that, we wish you ask you the following questions. Your answers will be posted on this group https://www.facebook.com/groups/savegithobokoniward2013/ and will help us decide whether to support your bid or not. The members of the group are all registered voters from Githoboni ward. Questions and responses from Samuel Gachago: Githobokoni ward county representative aspirant 1. Who are you? I am a family man, God fearing Christian, married to Lucy Njeri Gachago and blessed with a son Charlton Gachago born in Kaibere village, Mwimuto Sub-Location, Gathaite Location, Gatundu North District of Kiambu County on 25th August 1982. I sat for my KCPE in 1996 and I was the best candidate. I then joined Mururia Secondary School in 1997 and sat for my KCSE in the year 2000 and passed well. I then pursued a Diploma in Mass Communication and Journalism course at Nairobi Aviation College in 2002 and graduated in 2005. In 2006 I pursued a Certificate course in Strategic Planning and Management at East African Professionals Institute. Im currently pursuing a Distance Learning Programme in Political Science Degree course at Salem State College Massachusetts, Boston. Ive also pursued several certificates courses as indicated below:- ICT Entrepreneurship Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology; Youth Entrepreneurship - Family Bank, Behaviour Change Communication WEM Integrated Health Services (WEMHIS), Youth Oriented Counseling training WEMHIS, Project Management

Capacity Building Institute, TB Management Ministry Of Health. Ive been a voluntary community worker since 2004 till today. 2. Why are you running for the seat? Since my childhood, Ive been having a calling to diligent leadership because I feel a burden of negligence to the oppressed and the less privileged by the self-seeking and misguided leaders in the society. It has been an inborn calling to me whose time has ripened. 3. What is wrong with Githobokoni ward in your view? Poor leadership through electing self seeking, corrupt and immorally upright leaders. Poor management then follows in tandem. 4. How do you plan to deal with the problems facing the ward? Once elected the County Assembly Representative, Ill be an example of leadership with diligence and integrity. Ill first carry out a feasibility study / research on all development sectors and ensure those elected in the positions are people with merit, of high caliber and integrity. Ill then implement all the plans with a lot of professionalism and utmost integrity. 5. Are you running because a county rep will be earning more than 200,000 per month? No, no and no! Im not running to earn the Kshs.200,000/- per month. I even dont know how much Ill be earning as you state. My urge to serve Githobokoni ward comes before anything else. Ive already registered Samuel Gachago Macharia Foundation which will be an organization that Ill inject 20% of my monthly salary however little it could be, to help the needy. 6. Do you suppose the people want change?

Yes, Githobokoni people want change. 7. If so, why? Though change doesnt come from without but from within, they lack leaders who can change their lives. Surely they dont trust their leaders. Thats why I feel Im the change they want to charge the ward. All the development sectors are in ICU which need a dedicated leader of my caliber. 8. This voter https://www.facebook.com/mathew.k.mutua want to know the plans you have for ghost dispensaries that were constructed using cdf money (eg @kanyoni and makohokoho). What is your response? The ghost dispensaries are real. Ill ensure they get enough staff and medical facilities as a mater of urgency. They must be registered with the relevant ministries. Ill advocate for their funds from the Emergency Fund. I also have my donor friends who finance health facilities and so far Ive approached them on the same and have assured me on funds to do so. 9. On which ticket will you run on? The National Alliance Party (TNA) 10. Who do you support for presidency?

Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, the Deputy Prime minister. 11. Do you have any proven development or social activity/ies that voters connect you with? As a community volunteer and a Youth Development Activist, I have several proven social economic development activities that voters can

connect me with, Im so proud of my track record but I cant boast but just thank my God for creating a breakthrough to the society through me. The list is endless but Ill mention some: Advocating on Youth Development policies at the national level and structuring the guidelines e.g. the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, the Youth Parliament, Youth Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (YAGPO), Youth Employment Summit (YES). I then escalated the information to the youths at grassroots through organizing forums on voluntary basis. I educated youth groups on Youth Fund and many benefited from it and their lives changed to date including myself. Im a beneficiary of Youth Fund. I also invited Equity Bank to a forum to educate youths and women on soft loans at Kiangunu Catholic Church in 2008. Those who benefited from the loans were mostly young entrepreneurs whose lives changed into better until today. You can get real evidence from Kenyatta Street Equity Thika Branch Manager Mr. Mbote Nduguti who remains my great friend for the support. Ive also assisted many young entrepreneurs to register their businesses at the Registrar of Companies and through the Ministry of Works and Ministry of Roads. After registration, they seek my consultancy services. As a Water Consultant with Water Services Regulatory Board / Athi Water Board, I spearheaded broadening and re-installation of water pipes of Kamunyaka Gachege Kaibere Mwimuto channel. I worked hand in hand with councillor Vincent Kimani, Gathaite ward and the MD, Karimeru, Water and Sewerage Company. I feel so ashamed by

the leader who incited the residents to slash each other in order to benefit from the project. Several youths seek my mentorship especially on career guidance, attachments, courses selection, high schools, colleges, and universities enrolment. Ive several very successful young people who consider me their mentor and associate me with their success in life. Im so proud of them. 12. What will be your first Proposed County Legislation once you are elected in the County Assembly? Once Im elected, my Proposed County Legislation will be to have a database of all young entrepreneurs, offer them a Capacity Building Course and make the Governor pass a Directive of reducing the VAT levy from 16% to at least 5 8% through the Youth Access to Govt Procurement Opportunities Program. Incase of VAT defaulters, it will be waived. This will help to reduce competition in business between the rich and the less privileged youth. The gap between the haves and have nots in the whole County will be minimized through the legislation and the youth will be empowered. Likewise, I would advocate for a well laid down economic playing field in order to create a fresh business environment, I would ensure that the business community is well catered for in all sectors of economic development. 13. Briefly describe your advice to the County Assembly and the Governor on how to raise/increase resources/funds for the County Government Expenditure, (Once Elected). Unlike in Nairobi, many citizens especially the self-employed evade tax and levies. It is also advisable to educate them that Kulipa Ushuru ni

Kujitegemea. I would advise the Governor to organize a programme to educate people on the importance of paying taxes and levies. All the entrepreneurs would be re-registered afresh and paying VAT and levies made compulsory except for the youth who would have a 50% waiver. All the tax and levy collectors must be people of high transparency and accountability. COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS (RECOGNITIONS) 16TH APRIL 2011 - Ambassador Joe Beasley Foundation, USA. Outstanding Organization and Leadership Skills. June 2009 Water Services Regulatory Board / Water and Sanitation Program ( World Bank). Enhanced citizen engagement and accountability in water and sanitation. Dec. 2010 Inooro FM Live Interview and congratulatory remarks by Wanderi wa Muturi. Spearheading and voluntary Youth Empowerment Agenda and Community Service. Feb. 2009 Ministry of Youth Afffairs and Sports / UNICEF. Youth Situation Analysis Report in Central Province. May 2007 The Presidents Award Kenya. Bronze Navigator (Leadership and Organizational skills). October 2005 Youth Against Aids & Poverty

 Organization Successful participation in the implementation & running of the organization. Dec. 2007, May 2005, Nov. 2005, May 2004, Dec. 2002 Electoral Commission of Kenya Polling / Counting clerk, Registration clerk and referendum clerk.