Independents, bow out of August 8 polls like Mbugua Kega

Kieni MP Kanini Kega is now calling upon all the independent candidates who lost in the Jubilee Party primaries to follow Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua’s example – this coming just after Mbugua announced that he has opted out of the Nakuru County gubernatorial race.

Mbugua, who announced that he would seek reelection as an independent candidate after lost out in the Jubilee Party primaries,  on Saturday, withdrew from the race in favor of Jubilee nominee and former NTSA chairperson Lee Kinyanjui, with close sources revealing that it took efforts of President Uhuru Kenyatta to reconcile the parties.

Speaking in Saturday in Nyeri, Kega urged independents who had previously sought Jubilee Party tickets to follow Mbugua’s example by dropping out and backing the party’s candidate.

He said that all is not lost for those who failed to clinch Jubilee tickets in the nomination, saying that the party could give them non-elective posts.

Kega’s call comes even as several ex-Jubilee Party heavyweights maintain that they will run as independents, while still supporting Uhuru’s re-election bid.

Led by sitting Kiambu Governor William Kabogo, the candidates – who claim that they missed out the tickets due to electoral malpractices during the nominations – last week said that they are only running for office because they want to give the electorate a chance to pick their desired candidate.

On his part, Jubilee Nominee for the Nyeri Senatorial Race Ephraim Maina championed for maintenance of peace during the electioneering period.

He called on the Ministry of Land to fast-track the president’s directive on the issuance of title deeds to Kenyans living in colonial villages.

During the 54^th Madaraka Celebrations held in Nyeri County, the president ordered the Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi –led docket to ensure that colonial village dwellers have been given title deeds within three weeks.

“The county government should collaborate further with the national government to ensure that more land is bought to settle the villages who are so squeezed,” said the former Mathira MP, Ephraim Maina.

Written by Majanga Michael