Eugene Wamalwa announces bid for Nairobi governor seat

Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa has confirmed his ambition to run for Nairobi’s top seat.

Speaking while commissioning several CDF funded projects in Gatanga Constituency, Muranga County, Wamalwa promised to work towards building support for the president and his deputy within Nairobi, which has until now been perceived as a Cord region.

“It is time for Uhuru, Ruto and I to take the role formerly played by our predecessors Mwai Kibaki and the late Kijana Wamalwa to strengthen our communities to foster development in this country,” said Wamalwa.

Wamalwa, who believes he will be the man to deliver a win for President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi, further reiterated that in 2017, he shall be on the forefront supporting his re-election together with his Deputy President William Ruto.

On Wednesday, 18 Members of Parliament and two governors from the Western region endorsed Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa for the Nairobi governor seat.

Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka and his Vihiga counterpart Moses Akaranga are the two governors who voiced their support for Wamalwa, with MPs Namwamba, Waluke, Benjamin Washiali (Mumias East), Ayub Savula (Lugari), Wafula Lazaro (Saboti), Trans Nzoia Women Representative Janet Nangabo and her Bungoma counterpart Reginalda Wanyonyi also on board.

The legislators on Wednesday had a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s chief of staff Joseph Kinyua at the Office of the President to discuss among other things a planned three to four-day tour by the Head of State and his deputy to the region in the end of August.

The Luhya leaders are believed to have laid out a number of conditions that should be effected in exchange for their support for Jubilee ahead of the 2017 elections.

Among the conditions include the fronting of Eugene as the Jubilee candidate for Nairobi governorship race and another Luhya leader picked to be the Speaker of National Assembly should Jubilee win the 2017 General Election.

Meanwhile, the CS said that for now, he will focus on rolling out his mandate as Water CS until the time comes.

Also present was Gatanga MP Humphrey Njuguna Kimani who declared his support for Wamalwa as Nairobi’s next governor.

Additional details by Francis Kilango