Kizito backs Shitanda for governor seat

SHINYALU MP Justus Kizito has declared his support for Housing minister Soita Shitanda in the race for Kakamega governor seat. Kizito, who had earlier said he would run for the seat, said he will instead defend his parliamentary seat. “I had earlier said that I want to be governor but it is you who send me to Parliament t and have asked me to continue serving you,” he told mourners at the burial of his brother Benedict Munanga at Shagungu secondary school on Friday.

“I have heeded your advice and will continue in my capacity as MP to complete all the projects I started when you elected me in a by-election,” he said. He said that he has been consulting with elders and other stakeholders in the constituency who have asked him to climb down from the governor's race.

Kizito was elected to Parliament in 2009 August following the death of former MP Charles Lileji Lugano. Kizito called on elected leaders from Western province who are still in ODM to decamp to UDF and support Mudavadi's bid to become the country's fourth president. He said there is still room in UDF for more leaders. He warned those opposing Mudavadi that they risk being consigned into political oblivion.

“The mood in the country is for a Luhya presidency and I fear that our brothers who are still in ODM will remain out of the next government,” he said. He said Central and Rift Valley provinces have accepted Mudavadi's candidature because the Luhya community supported President Kenyatta, retired president Moi and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta when he ran for State House in 2002.