Ngilu to run for Kitui governor, Sakaja and Waweru eye Nairobi

Former Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Kaluki Ngilu has formally declared her interest in running for Kitui County governorship seat in the 2017 general election.

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

Speaking in her native language, Ngilu asked the people of Kitui to support her bid saying she believed she was the answer to their longtime 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. I am going to listen to the voice of the people because they know the kind of leaders they want,” said the former Lands CS.

Ngilu hit out at the Kitui Governor Julius Malombe for allegedly failing to meet the needs of the electorate, adding that the community was still struggling with water shortages, food insecurity and slow-paced development.

“It is unfortunate that Kitui residents are still grappling with the very problems they had before devolution despite having received over Ksh15 billion from the National Treasury since 2013,” Ngilu expressed, promising to end the problems once elected as Kitui governor.

Ngilu’s announcement marks a return to politics after falling to David Musila in the 2013 Kitui Senate race.

The one-time MP for Kitui Central is bracing for a tough political battle as Musila is also eying the top county government seat and Governor Julius Malombe is expected to aggressively defend the seat come 2017.

Ngilu announced that she will be contesting for the seat on her National Alliance of Rainbow Coalition (NARC) party ticket, and not CORD or Jubilee.

She also rubbished media reports claiming that she was eyeing the presidency terming it a ploy to confuse the electorates.

“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 pointed out.

Meanwhile, Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru has announced that he will be vying for the Nairobi Governor seat in the 2017 polls.

Waweru’s announcement adds to the number of people targeting the seat which is currently held by ODM’s Evans Kidero.

TNA chairman and Nominated MP Johnson Sakaja, former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru and Nairobi Senator Mike Mbuvi ‘Sonko’ are also eyeing the seat and will face Governor Kidero who is keen on launching a re-election bid.

@benjaminwafula