I regret endorsing Governor Wambora in 2013 poll, says Cecily Mbarire

Runyenjes MP Cecily Mbarire has said she regrets endorsing Embu Governor Martin Wambora in the 2013 general elections.

Ms Mbarire said Mr Wambora had not performed to her expectations.

She said she was one of the people who approached the former Kenya Airports Authority chairman and convinced him to contest for the gubernatorial seat, which he easily won.

“Making a mistake once can be forgiven, the problem is to make it twice,” she told residents.

Before vying for governor, Mr Wambora was opposing Ms Mbarire for the Runyenjes parliamentary seat on an Alliance Party of Kenya (APK) ticket.

Speaking at Dallas mosque during a fundraiser, Ms Mbarire said she had earlier approached 2013 gubernatorial race runner-up Kithinji Kiragu but he declined to join TNA.

LEVEL PLAYING FIELD

Mr Kiragu called for a level playing field in the Jubilee nominations.

“People should not impose leaders on us,” said Mr Kiragu.

Ms Mbarire and Embu Speaker Kariuki Mate told residents that the Jubilee Party nominations would be free and fair and encouraged others to join the party to ensure only the most powerful candidate sailed through.

Responding to concerns by Mr Kiragu who called for a level playing field, Ms Mbarire and Mr Kariuki said no one would be favoured.

In an emotional Mr Kiragu said Mr Wambora had been favoured by the TNA chiefs and was therefore pushed to ensure he sailed through, and expressed concern that the same could be repeated in 2017.

“Let it not happen as it happened in 2013 when people imposed a leader on us.

“People should not impose leaders on us. We were looking for a horse but ended up with a donkey,” he said.