Candidate drops out of Malindi race, backs Jubilee aspirant

Jubilee Party candidate for Malindi parliamentary seat Philip Charo received a boost Thursday when two candidates who dropped from the race announced they would support him.

The candidate, Mr Peter Ponda of Chama Cha Uzalendo (CCU) now joins Mr Fuad Kombe of Kanu who dropped out two weeks ago in pledging to back the Jubilee aspirant.

“We have decided to drop our candidature in support of our brother Philip Charo because it is only the Jubilee Party that can solve land and other problems facing people of the coastal region,” said Mr Ponda.

Speaking in Mazuruni in Malindi during a campaign rally attended by Deputy President William Ruto, Mr Kombe said they were optimistic that the Jubilee candidate would carry the day in Monday’s by-election.

Addressing campaign rallies in Lango Baya, Kakuyuni and the Mazuruni grounds, Mr Ruto said the Jubilee administration is committed to solving problems facing people at the Coast.

He said the government had issued title deeds to land owners in the region, adding that no such document was issued when Cord leader Raila Odinga was in government.

“Do not let them lie to you that they will help you when they [come to power] yet in the five years they were in power they did nothing for you,” said the Deputy President.

He said the Jubilee administration had not only issued title deeds but had also built roads, connected electricity to schools and homes and upgraded hospitals in the three years it has been in power.

He said the Mariakani-Bomba road is under construction and plans are under way to start work on the Malindi-Sala Gate (Tsavo) road.

Mr Ruto was accompanied by National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, MPs Mustaffa Iddi (Kilifi South), Mwashetani Khatib (Lunga Lunga), Gideon Mung’aro (Kilifi North), Ibrahim Sane (Garsen), Peter Shehe (Ganze), Emma Mbura (nominated Senator) and Kwale Woman Representative Zeinab Chidzuga.