Meet ex-soldier who wants to be Kenya’s 5th president

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Nasa flag bearer Raila Odinga will have to work harder to capture the seat on August 8, an ex-soldier who is eyeing the State House job has warned.

Hardened by his many years he served as a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldier, Mr Nixon Kukubo has warned the duo and other presidential aspirants to prepare for a bruising battle.

Making his second stab at the presidency, Mr Kukubo says he is the only aspirant with the ability to steer the country to economic stability in the region.

His bid, he says, was informed after Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula pulled out of the race and backed Mr Odinga on a National Super Alliance (Nasa) ticket.

Speaking during a phone interview, the Independent candidate argued that he has what it takes to “save the country from runaway corruption, bad governance and unemployment.”

“Kenya needs a serious and a development conscious leader, jokers should be voted out, I will save this country if elected in August,” he said.

FOOD PRICES

Mr Kukubo decried the suffering of Kenyans due to high food prices saying this will not happen should he be elected President on August 8.

He accused the Jubilee administration of letting Kenyans down and being unable to control the price of maize flour, sugar and milk which is hurting many Kenyans.

“Once elected as President, I will ensure that agriculture sector is given an upper hand. We can’t allow importation of maize yet we have a fertile land that if well utilised we can’t suffer from hunger…good priorities lead to good results,” he said.

Mr Kukubo said that he was optimistic of clinching the presidential seat if Kenyans of good will support his bid.

Mr Kukubo, who contested in the 2007 General Election against President Mwai Kibaki but lost, said Mr Kenyatta will go down in history as a one-term President.

At the 2007 polls, he garnered 5,927 votes.

MUSICIAN

Mr Kukubo attended Ndakaru and Nakalira primary schools in Sirisia constituency and later joined Kimilili Boys High School where he did his Form Four exams in 1977. All schools are in Bungoma County.

He later joined the military in 1978 where he worked until his resignation in 1989.

"During my days in the military, I used to compose and sing songs that praised the government of the day alongside my fellow military officers," he narrated.

He plunged into active politics in 2001 where he formed and registered the Republican Party of Kenya but it was until 2007 when he unsuccessfully vied for the Presidency.

Mr Kukubo, 60, born in Butonge, Sirisia constituency is married to three wives. He has 10 children.

"I believe that I am going to defeat both Opposition flag bearer Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta if the elections will be free and fair and I am ready to serve this country diligently," he said.