Former ministers, Kimemia join the race for governor

What you need to know:

  • The former minister who has announced he will contest for governorship in Kilifi County said he will only stay in Jubilee because of his friendship with Deputy President William Ruto.
  • Mr Kambi will have to face the incumbent Amason Kingi and Kilifi North MP Gideon Mungaro in a race threatening to be explosive in a region previously dominated by the opposition.
  • Meanwhile, former Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Kimemia is angling for the Nyandarua gubernatorial seat and has been busy building support among local churches in the county.

Former Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi has warned that Jubilee alliance might face a difficult race if it does not conduct all-inclusive campaigns in the Malindi by-election.

The former minister said that the coalition requires a well planned campaign to gain ground in the region or face an embarrassing moment like happened in the Kajiado Central by-election last year.

“I want to advise my colleagues in the Jubilee Alliance Party that it is dangerous to run a disjointed campaign in an area where the opposition has had strong roots like Malindi. We must work together or perish together,” Mr Kambi said.

The former minister who has announced he will contest for governorship in Kilifi County said he will only stay in Jubilee because of his friendship with Deputy President William Ruto.

He denied claims he is working on a scheme to join the opposition in order to improve his chances of winning the seat.

“I am not in Jubilee because of anyone else. I am here because of my brother William Ruto. If he moves I move too,” Mr Kambi said.

Mr Kambi is among several Cabinet secretaries ejected from President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government last year.

Said Mr Kambi: “I am not bitter for having left government. People serve at the mercy of the President. But I am happy that my enemies who planned to have me fixed did not succeed. My name was cleared and now it is time to think about the people of Kilifi.”

Jubilee Alliance is supporting Philip Charo while ODM is represented in the by-elections race by Willy Mtengo.

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Mr Kambi will have to face the incumbent Amason Kingi and Kilifi North MP Gideon Mungaro in a race threatening to be explosive in a region previously dominated by the opposition.

Meanwhile, former Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Kimemia is angling for the Nyandarua gubernatorial seat and has been busy building support among local churches in the county.

Mr Kimemia is said to be conducting high profile engagements with opinion shapers in the county and is expected to rely on his past records in government.

“We must help our people to develop. Churches are very critical in the development of our societies and if we have a way of supporting let us do it,” Mr Kimemia said.

He called on leaders in Nyandarua to ensure a good leadership is in place in order to ensure the agriculturally endowed county does not lug behind while others develop.

Said Mr Kimemia: “It is time for blessed counties like Nyandarua to shine as we are endowed with blessed  brains, land, environment and resources."

The former Secretary to the Cabinet is also engaging in mobilising residents to register as voters, adding that it is the only way to help redefine the future.