Merger talks turn tables in Kiambaa race
The scramble for the estimated 95,000 registered voters in Kiambaa is heightening with Jubilee and United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidates burning the midnight oil hoping to turn tables on each other in the by-election slated for July 15.
Apparently, the recent pronouncement that plans are at advanced stage for Jubilee to form a coalition with ODM ahead of the 2022 polls has become ammunition against Jubilee candidate Kariri Njama’s campaign.
UDA claims the ruling party has since died and hence electing its candidate will be immaterial.
Yesterday, UDA candidate Njuguna Wanjiku has hit the ground with several legislators allied to the party participating in the aggressive campaigns trails.
The legislators who included Didmus Barasa, Moses Kuria, Ndindi Nyoro, Jane Kihara and Rigathi Gachagua split into three groups and traversed the entire five wards in the sub county where they drummed up support for Wanjiku.
Barasa was tasked to meet locals who hail from the Western region residing in Cianda and Gachie wards.
He prevailed upon them to vote for the UDA candidate noting the party which is allied to Deputy President William Ruto was the only home for the less privileged members of the society.
“UDA is fast growing into a formidable party which will no doubt form the next government and hence I urge you to be its supporters in earnest,” he said at Cianda.
Jubilee lost clout
Ndindi and Kihara who addressed crowds in Karuri and Kihara said that Jubilee has lost its clout in Mt Kenya region and hence should be discarded and ignored.
“We won’t agree to be shepherded into ODM and those thinking that we can do it are day dreamers. Our party of choice as people of Mt Kenya is UDA,” said Ndindi.
“Those who have access to President Uhuru, who we respect a lot , should tell him that his action of throwing his deputy under the bus has exposed the Kikuyu community to ridicule and public odium”, he said.
He alleged that the area provincial administration had been directed to campaign for the Jubilee candidate.
‘’Even if they use chiefs, Assistant County Commissioners and the police, we shall rely on God and not power and will no doubt win this seat,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Gachagua who urged Kiambaa voters to support the UDA candidate but collect any money dangled to them by the government.
Kihara said that the hustler movement is keen to ensure that the youth are involved in leadership and urged youthful voters to throw their weight behind Wanjiru.
She said that the UDA candidate deserves the seat owing to the fact that he comes from a very humble background besides being brought up by a single mother.
