Ruto headache in Kiambu governor race as six top aspirants join Kenya Kwanza

The entry of high-profile competitors into the Kenya Kwanza Alliance has complicated the battle for Kiambu gubernatorial seat.

Six out of the nine contestants are now in Kenya Kwanza that is led by Deputy President William Ruto (UDA), Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) and Moses Wetang'ula (Ford Kenya).

They include former Kiambu governors William Kabogo and Ferdinand Waititu, Senator Kimani Wamatangi, MPs Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Patrick Wainaina alias Wa Jungle (Thika Town) and the county assembly speaker Stephen Ndichu.

Wamatangi ditched Jubilee and was welcomed to UDA by Ruto during the alliance's rally at Thika Stadium on Sunday. He said that he had consulted widely before making his decision to join UDA.

Ndichu on Friday led a delegation of 30 Kiambu MCAs to DP Ruto’s Karen home where they officially joined UDA after ditching the ruling party Jubilee.

The entry of Wamatangi and Ndichu to UDA has tightened next month’s nominations where they will engage in a gruelling contest with Waititu and Wainaina for the party's ticket.

On the other hand, two other front-runners in the race threw their weight behind Kenya Kwanza.

Tujibebe Wakenya party leader Kabogo and his Chama Cha Kazi  counterpart  Kuria announced that they will back the alliance and Ruto’s presidential bid.

“As a true son of the mountain, I’ve taken time to listen to the people of the mountain and the great people of Kiambu and the decision is now made,"Kabogo said.

"As a selfless leader whose sole intention is to ensure that the people who look up to me are well represented and their aspirations  well catered for, I have made the decision to join  Kenya Kwanza.” 

The former governor said that he will work with his new found partners to not only deliver the Presidency to Ruto, but to also ensure he clinches the governor's  seat come August 9.

Kuria too announced that his CCK party will be campaigning alongside Kenya Kwanza to propel Ruto to State House after the August general election.

Kuria seems to have fallen out with OKA principals Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) and Gideon Moi (KANU) who have declared their support for Raila Odinga under the Azimio la Umoja coalition.

Kenya Kwanza principals will have a rough time settling on their  gubernatorial candidate. 

Pundits in the region maintain that there will be a major  fall-out between the aspirants and the Kenya Kwanza leadership before elections.

With the six now in one coalition, the incumbent James Nyoro is now deemed as the strongest competitor flying the Azimio La Umoja flag.

“The shifting of Kuria, Wamatangi and Kabogo has completely changed the political matrix in the Kiambu governor race," Wachira Minyaru, a Kiambu-based political analyst said.

" This is a tiebreaker because they have opened a gap between themselves and the minorities living in Kiambu and this has arguably given Nyoro an upper hand come August 9. ”

(Edited by Francis Wadegu)