- Lay, who had turned to gospel music after losing her senatorial bid in the last election, did not specify who she is supporting.
- She said she will only support a gubernatorial hopeful who will value her political prowess.
Image: SOLOMON MUINGI
The former Taita Taveta Woman Rep Joyce Lay has announced her comeback to politics after years in the cold.
Lay took to her Facebook page to reveal she is eying the running mate position in the gubernatorial race.
Lay, who had turned to gospel music after losing her senatorial bid in the last election, did not specify who she is supporting.
The ex-legislator said she has received calls from different candidates seeking her support.
“My husband and I have received several calls from different people, asking me to be the next deputy governor for Taita Taveta. I had resisted the advice of going back to politics,” she said, adding that, “We have now agreed I will go for the deputy governor position for Taita Taveta county.”
She said she will only support a governor hopeful who will value her political prowess.
“I will make more announcements soon to tell you who my candidate will be,” Lay added.
The politician ditched ODM for Jubilee in 2017. She vied for a senate seat in the last general election but lost to ODM’s Jones Mwaruma.
The Najua hitmaker was appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta as a Trustee in the Water Sector Trust Fund in 2019. She, however, resigned a year later and maintained a low profile. She would later announce her new career as a musician.
This is the second time Lay is announcing her comeback since 2017.
In March last year, while accompanying ODM leader Raila Odinga to a campaign tour in Voi, she said she was ready to resume active politics.
Her return then, was seen as a new formation in Governor Granton Samboja’s administration. Insiders said she was being groomed to replace Deputy Governor Majala Mlagui.
She would later take a low political profile, and has been mentoring young talents through the Joyce Lay Foundation.
Sources privy to her engagement with Samboja revealed the two did not reach an agreement, prompting her low profile.
“Governor Samboja is among those who are keen to have Lay in their camp. She still has a sizeable political influence,” a source in the governor’s campaign team said.
Samboja has been at loggerheads with his deputy Mlagui, and is set to drop her. Mlagui has already declared interest in the Mwatate parliamentary seat.
On who to support, Lay said she will not campaign for any politician who does not value her input.
“I cannot work with someone who disrespects me, and trashes every advice I give. I know who I am. I know what I can bring to the table. I cannot sit where there's no value seen,” she said.
She further warned residents against electing leaders who disrespect women leaders.
None of the 14 governor hopefuls has announced a running mate.
They include incumbent Samboja, former governor John Mruttu, Mwatate legislator Andrew Mwadime and former senator Dan Mwazo.
Other aspirants are media personality Patience Nyange, Rachael Mwakazi, George Mwandembo, public policy expert and community leader Stephen Mwakesi, Elijah Mwandoe, Prof Agnes Mwang'ombe, Faustin Mghendi and Voi-based lawyer Onsemus Mwinzi.
-Edited by SKanyara