Pressure or persuasion? Aspirant seeking Jubilee nomination in Kiambaa by-election recants on defection to UDA
A dissatisfied aspirant seeking the nomination of the ruling Jubilee party in the Kiambaa by-election has renounced her defection to Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance.
Dmaris Wambui, the niece to former KIambaa MP Paul Koinange announced her defection to UDA after Jubilee nominated Karanja Kariri Njama as its flag bearer in the July 15 polls.
Flanked by Kiambu Governor James Nyoro and BBI Secretariat co-chair Dennis Waweru, Wambui stated that she had run her campaigns through the Jubilee party way before the nominations.
“I have run my campaigns through the Jubilee party for close to two months hoping to be nominated by the people of Kiambaa as the Jubilee flag bearer. As you are aware the party decided to run its nomination by way of interviews that were held yesterday (Saturday, May 22) in which I participated,” Damaris said.
A Liaison Director at Kiambu County, Wambui claimed that she announced her defection to UDA after Jubilee side stepped her in the nomination process.
“Unfortunately, the position was not given to me. As you all know, it was out of this disappointment, anguish and bad feelings that I found myself making the announcements that I made prompting that I have moved from the Jubilee party,” Wambui said.
Wambui further stated that she has not decamped from Jubilee and would support the party’s candidate in the by-election.
“After a lot of soul searching, advice from my supporters in Kiambaa, immediate family members and political mentors I have decided to withdraw my yesternight remarks and that I will remain in Jubilee party and continue to support the President’s ideas,” Wambui remarked.
On Friday, May 21, UDA awarded John Njuguna and Kamau Thumbi the nomination certificates for Kiambaa and Muguga by-elections respectively.
Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria's PEP party will not make an entry into the Kiambaa by-election after Kuria bowed to pressure from UDA.
Kuria had turned down pleas from his associates in UDA, not to field a candidate in Kiambaa.
The two seats fell vacant after the two legislators succumbed to Covid-19.
The former Kiambaa MP Paul Koinange died on March 31 while the the former Muguga MCA Eliud Ngugi died on March 16.
