Kirinyaga assembly majority leader Kamau Murango's senatorial bid was given a boost after his UDA party competitor Munene Njiru dropped out in his favour.
The announcement was made by Deputy President William Ruto who said that the latter shelved his bid after a consensus for the sake of strengthening the party at the county level.
Njiru, according to the DP, also dropped out of the race for the purpose of striking a balance in the distribution of party candidates across the county .
This is after it emerged that Njiru hails from the same village as Governor Ann Waiguru who is contesting for reelection on an UDA ticket.
“We had consultations with them as a party and through the party processes, Njiru graciously dropped his bid in favour of Murango,” Ruto said.
“This is out of consideration that both Njiru and Waiguru come from the same village and in a bid to ensure regional balance for UDA candidates he accepted to shelve his senatorial ambition to a later date.”
The DP praised the move saying it is a constitutional provision to ensure regional balance for party candidates.
Ruto said Njiru will now be absorbed into his presidential campaign team.
He hailed his immense contribution in strengthening the party over the past two years.
Njiru affirmed his commitment to serve UDA diligently so that it will clinch the governance of the nation after August 9 polls.
He said he believed in the great vision by the party of aspiring to transform the lives of ordinary Kenyans through the bottom-up economic model.
With Njiru's latest move, there is a likelihood Murango might be the party’s flag bearer as he faces no competition from any senatorial aspirant in the upcoming party primaries.
The DP also revealed that Muchiri Njeru who had since expressed his interest in the Kirinyaga Central MP’s seat on an UDA ticket had equally dropped his bid in favour of former MP Gachoki Gitari .
Ruto said the party will now assign him other roles meant to popularise UDA across the county and the entire nation.
Njeru pledged to cooperate to help build a more formidable party.
His sentiments comes as the party is gearing up for the nominations scheduled for April 14 across the country .
Earlier in the week while accompanying Waiguru in a water project in Kirinyaga Central, Murango affirmed his support for UDA despite the harassment he was subjected to .
He said he was facing intimidation due to his persistent agitation for the state to drop the water tariffs that is subjecting Kirinyaga residents and farmers to unbearable problems.
He narrated of how close to 20 police officers stormed his home accusing him of trumped up allegations attempting to intimidate him.
“I will continue fighting for Wanjiku because that is what I’m mandated to do,"Murango said.
"I will also not give in to fear for my political decision of sticking firmly in UDA and for my unrelenting support for DP Ruto.”
He praised the DP for being consistent in supporting President Uhuru Kenyatta throughout his term despite being shortchanged.
If handed the UDA party ticket, Murango will battle it out with among others Jubilee's Antony Karimi and Daniel Karaba or Peter Kathanga (Safina)and Wangui Kabiru (Party for Peace and Development )
(Edited by Francis Wadegu)
