Ngilu sets eyes on Kitui gubernatorial seat

Former lands cabinet secretary Charity Kaluki Ngilu has declared her interest in running for Kitui County gubernatorial seat in the 2017 general elections.

Ms Ngilu made the announcement on Saturday when she joined the residents of Inyuu village, Kitui East, for a thanksgiving ceremony.

She asked residents to support her bid saying that she believed she was the answer to their problems.

“I will be running for the governor’s seat because I have been approached by people who believe that I can perform better than the incumbent,” she said amid cheers of approval from the large crowd she was addressing.

“It is unfortunate that Kitui residents are still grappling with the very problems they had before devolution despite having received over Sh15 billion from the National Treasury since 2013,” Ms Ngilu said, promising to end the problems once elected as Kitui governor.

In the 2013, she unsuccessfully vied against incumbent Senator David Musila for Kitui senatorial seat.

She is bracing for a tough political battle as Mr Musila is also eying the top county seat while Governor Julius Malombe is expected to aggressively defend the seat in the 2017 polls.

Ms Ngilu will be contesting on her National Alliance of Rainbow Coalition (NARC) party ticket but it is not yet clear whether she will be joining Coalition for Reforms and Democracy or Jubilee Alliance.

She also rubbished previous media reports that she was planning to vie for the Presidency.

“That is a hoax meant to confuse Kenyans, especially the people of Kitui. Treat such reports with the contempt they deserve as they are blatant lies fabricated by mischievous individuals. I only desire to become your governor and serve you well,” she told her supporters.