Aspirants urged to control their supporters during primaries

Murang’a governor aspirant Jamleck Kamau has called for peace during party nominations this month.

Kamau also challenged parties to ensure they conduct free and fair nominations to ensure the right aspirants are issued with tickets.

He said he was a victim of shambolic nominations that cost him the governor's seat in 2017, but said the discrepancies were reported in numerous parts across the country.

Kamau also urged aspirants who will lose to concede defeat instead of inciting their supporters to wreak havoc on their behalf.

Many aspirants have been apprehensive of the nominations and have chosen to vie through smaller parties that give them direct tickets.

Kamau himself was handed a direct ticket by Jubilee after making it clear he would not join a party that would subject him to nominations.

Other candidates for the governor seat include Moses Mwangi (Safina Party), Irungu Kang’ata (UDA), Wairagu wa Maai (DP),  Irungu Nyakera (Farmers Party of Kenya) and Micheal Gatogo (ANC).

In Murang’a, only Jubilee and UDA parties are expected to conduct nominations for the seats of MCA, MP, woman representative and Senator, with UDA expected to hold its nominations on Thursday.

Kamau dismissed some of his rivals who he accused of over depending on their parties in their campaigns instead of selling their agenda.

He told residents to vote for leaders based on their achievements and agenda regardless of their parties.

Kamau served as Kigumo MP for two terms since 2007. 

He spoke Friday during a free medical camp he had organised at Njumbi grounds in Mathioya.

Kamau said thousands of residents have been flocking the camps organised bi-monthly in various parts of the country, which is an indication the health sector is not doing well.

“Having more than 5,000 people attend just one camp shows that there is a huge problem that needs urgent attention,” he said.

Many families have been struggling to access health care due to poverty and the high costs of medical care.

Most of the challenges plaguing the sector, he said, can be solved if it is allocated more funds, relieving Kenyans the suffering they have been undergoing.

He said a huge number of patients fail to get their illnesses checked in time because of financial constraints which causes easily treatable diseases to blow up into major conditions.

One of the main issue raised by patients is lack of drugs in public health facilities that force them to purchase drugs from private pharmacies at a higher price. 

“When people are able to access treatment when unwell, it raises their productivity because a sick person cannot work,” Kamau, who has so far organised, 10 medical camps said.

He also said more resources should be channeled towards sensitising Kenyans on the importance of eating healthy foods and how to avoid and manage non-communicable diseases which are on the rise.

“We have treated numerous cases of diabetes, hypertension, arthritis and cervical cancer. The prevalence of these diseases can be reduced through promotion of health education,” he said. 

(edited by Amol Awuor)