Tough race for Mwakwere in Kwale County gubernatorial race

Kwale County ODM Chairman Hassan Mwanyoha has dispelled claims that the party has settled on Kenya’s Ambassador to Tanzania Chirau Ali Mwakwere to run for the Kwale County governor’s seat an the Orange Democratic Party (ODM) ticket.

Mwakwere who towards the end of 2016 changed camps from Jubilee Party to ODM has been taunted as a frontrunner to replace the incumbent Governor Salim Mvurya, who moved from ODM to the Jubilee Party.

While meeting with the ODM Kwale County gubernatorial aspirants in Msambweni, Mwanyoha clarified that all candidates will face off in the party primaries to determine the one who will go to the ballot box with the party’s ticket.

“We already have our strategy in place and anyone who tells you that someone has already bagged ODM ticket is lying. We have not yet gone to elections and we are not even thinking about that. We are currently focused on strengthening our party,” said Mwanyoha.

The Kwale County gubernatorial race has attracted seven candidates for the ODM ticket including County Assembly Speaker Sammy Ruwa, Ali Mwaropayo, Chirau Mwakwere and Gereza Dena.