SHOCKING LIST OF ASPIRANTS VYING FOR KIAMBU GOVERNOR SEAT

The race for governor of Kiambu is promising to be a grueling battle that has so far attracted 6 aspirants.
Kiambu Governor James Nyoro is upbeat that the residents will give him an electoral mandate, having come to office midstream following the impeachment of the governor he deputized Ferdinand Waititu

“I’m defending my seat as Governor of Kiambu in the next five years under the umbrella of Jubilee party whose slogan is mbele Pamoja,” Nyoro is quoted as saying.

Nyoro who in 2013 emerged second in the race before teaming up with Waititu in 2017 to defeat Kabogo is facing tough opposition from three serving members of parliament, the county speaker and the former Governor

Moses Kuria who had initially declared he will not be contesting for any political office is among those who have joined the race lately.

“Hii mchezo ni friendly tunaweza kuskizana na tusiposkizana hakuna uadui naamini kuwa hao wote ni wapinzani ambao wana heshimika na mimi nataka unianglie kwangu kampeni ya Kiambu tutaanza na tumbalize bila majina, bila matusi na bila kunyosheeana vidole,” Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria said on Sunday.

Thika Town MP Patrick Wainaina Jungle a first time legislator is also promising the other aspirants a run for their money.

Wainaina who was elected as an independent candidate in 2017 has joined the United Democratic Alliance party.

The MP will likely face off with Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi and County Speaker Stephen Ndicho in the UDA party primaries as sources indicate they are planning to decamp to the Deputy President William Ruto led party.

“Right now I’m squaring in UDA and UDA as a party I’m looking at their policies and my aspirations and I’m seeing we can work together,” Wainaina said of his governorship bid

Former Kiambu Governor and Tujibebe Wakenya Party William Kabogo is also keen on recapturing a seat he lost in the 2017 elections …

“I am going for the governor seat of the county of Kiambu without doubt, without fear na sio kwa sababu napenda wana kufuata kwa sababu wakenya wamelia Kiambu na wamesema afadhali Kabogo,” the one-term governor said.

Mwende Gatabaki, the wife of economist David Ndii also launched her bid on Saturday for the seat which has also attracted a number of women aspirants including Dr. Juliet Kimemiah who is vying on a KANU ticket.

The Thika MP has promised to put up 600 kilometers of tarmac if elected, while Senator Wamatangi has vowed to deal with pending bills as well as create 50,000 jobs should he clinch the seat.

MP Moses Kuria on the other hand, promises among other things, to bring investors to Kiambu as well as travel far and wide in search of market for local products while the incumbent, Governor Nyoro says he will address the total debt portofolio for Kiambu.

For the residents of Kiambu, their main concern is a leader who will embrace public participation in taking the agenda of the county forward …

“Kazi imekuwa ikifanywa hatukatai lakini magavana wengi ambao wamekuwa hapo wamekuwa wakifanya kazi kulingana na mapendekeo yao sasa this time tunahitaji Gavana ambaye ataskiza wananchi ajue nini ya maana, ni nini itaanzia na nini itakuwa ya mwisho,” Edwin Kinyanjui, a Boda Boda operator says.

“Tungetaka atuangalilie hali ya health kwa sababu kama Githunguri wetu tulanziwa hospitali na haikumalizaka yule alianza alienad ikaachwa hivyo mwenye aliingia hakuendelea,” Agnes Wagathecha, a resident of Githunguri says.

KIAMBU county has 12 constituencies and over 1.2 million registered voters.

Courtesy