Kiambu governor: Jubilee will not issue direct ticket for Kiambaa by-election
Kiambu governor James Nyoro has affirmed that Jubilee political party will not issue direct nomination to any candidate for the forthcoming Kiambaa parliamentary by-election.
He cautioned a section of aspirants against peddling rumours to the effect that the party has a preferred candidate who will be given a direct nomination.
“The party's Secretary General Raphael Tuju has said it again and again that every aspirant planning to contest on a Jubilee ticket will be subjected to a free and fair nomination exercise,” he told People Daily in Kiambaa yesterday.
The nominations exercise has since attracted high octane politics with a section of civic leaders throwing their weight behind Kariri Njama whom they said has the best leadership qualities and acumen to steer the area to greater levels.
'We decided to shelves our political differences and pool our resources and energy together in favour of Kariri who is best suited to take over from the late Paul Koinange,' said Cianda Ward politician Joseph Gitonga.
Yesterday marked the end of submission of applications for nomination as directed by the party after July 15 was picked by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as the by-election's date.
Prospective Jubilee candidates have expressed hopes that the exercise will be free and fair.
They cautioned the party’s top brass against interfering with the process in order to allow the people of Kiambaa to make their own choice.
The seat which fell vacant following the death of MP Paul Koinange has attracted a motley collection of veteran and new politicians including Josphat Kamanya, Charles Munyui, Kari Njama, Damaris Wambui, Raymond Kuria, Njuguna Wanjiku, Lenah Koinange, Lydia Njeri and Eric Mutura among others.
Jubilee will face off with the Deputy President William Ruto's linked United Democratic Alliance ( UDA) whose front runner is Njuguna Wanjiku.
Njuguna says that if elected, he will endeavour to complete all the projects which were initiated by Koinange as well as encourage the youth to enroll for TVET courses in a bid to be easily absorbed into the job market.
Aspirants Charles Munyui who is also a Governance Consultant told People Daily via a text that meritocracy, loyalty to the party and support for the Jubilee government agenda and more so the will of the voters must be what the party must rely on when identifying it's candidate.
“It should be a priority for the party to win the seat and that should be the driving force in ensuring that the party which is our people's favourite political outfit settles on the right candidate,” he said.
Kariri Njama who is tipped to clinch the party's ticket in a fair and free duel said that he expects the nominations to be devoid of rigging noting that the same will impact negatively on the party's performance.
Jubilee will be looking forward to stamp it's authority in the area while UDA is fighting tooth and nail to find foot in Kiambu.
