Vihiga professionals in Nakuru want Emuhaya MP Wilber Ottichilo to be next governor
Emuhaya MP Wilber Khasilwa Ottichilo (seated centre) with professionals from Vihiga County residing in Nakuru on May 28, 2016. The professionals said they want Dr Ottichilo to be their next governor come 2017. PHOTO | MAGDALENE WANJA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The professionals on Saturday announced their plan to endorse the MP as their next governor.
- Dr Ottichilo said it was important that the residents ensure that the representatives they elect are knowledgeable.
- He called on the members of the opposition to consider celebrating Madaraka Day as a national day.
- He also said there is an urgent need to restructure the IEBC.
Professionals from Vihiga County residing in Nakuru have said they want Emuhaya MP Wilber Khasilwa Ottichilo to vie for the county gubernatorial seat in 2017.
The professionals on Saturday announced their plan to endorse the MP as their next governor.
Speaking in Nakuru after a day-long indoor meeting, the residents drawn from various professions said the current governor had failed them and that his time in office was over.
“We are not happy with how the county is being managed and we therefore decided to come together to see what we can correct instead of blaming each other,” said Joseph Simeka, who is also a lecturer at the University of Nairobi.
Mr Simeka said they would move to the rest of the counties where they have sizeable members from Vihiga in preparation for the 2017 elections.
“We have requested a number of professionals present in the meeting to offer themselves for elective positions so as to create change in our county,” he said.
ELECT KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE
Dr Ottichilo, who was also present at the meeting, said it was important that the residents ensure that the representatives they elect are knowledgeable and that their choices should be based on what they have demonstrated they can do.
“I have offered myself for the candidature of Vihiga governor and I am getting support from members of Vihiga County that I have already met.
“So far I have met professionals from Mombasa, Eldoret and Nakuru,” he said.
He said the current governor had led the county into debt despite receiving more than Sh10 billion in the past three and a half years.
“There is a lot that should have been achieved in changing the lives of the people but right now the impact does not tally to the amount of money that has been received,” he added.
Dr Otichilo also said the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission should be restructured.
“We must have dialogue, which will involve bringing together all the stakeholders and table it for discussion in Parliament. It will take a very short time,” said Dr Ottichilo.
He called on members of the Opposition to consider celebrating Madaraka Day as a national day and not conduct other functions beside the major event.
