MP Dawood quits Jubilee, to defend seat as independent

North Imenti MP Rahim Dawood has declared he will defend his seat as an independent candidate.

He said he will quit Jubilee Party.

Dawood spoke on Sunday while unveiling his campaign team to supporters at his constituency.

The two-term legislator asked his supporters to vote for other candidates of their choice.

Dawood, who is a staunch supporter of Deputy President William Ruto, failed to join UDA.

Had he joined UDA, he would face nominated MP Halima Mucheke who has been a member of Tanga Tanga for four years.

The legislator first won his seat in 2013 on an Alliance Party of Kenya ticket popularly known as Mbus. He later defended his seat in 2017 on a Jubilee party ticket.

The MP wanted to join Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi’s Devolution Empowerment party.

He however cancelled the plans after realising the party was preserved for rival Carol Muriuki, who is daughter of former MP Silas Muriuki.

Dawood also considered Jubilee where he said he was promised a direct ticket.

He however cancelled the plans after it emerged he would face Beatrice Karwitha in the nominations.

“My people said they do not want me to join Jubilee. I explained to them all about the other parties and they told me to vie as an independent candidate,” Dawood said.

The MP said he has had an experience of the nomination process.

“Last time I used about one million shillings to buy Jubilee cards for my supporters during the nomination process. They were however not used and I was almost rigged out in the nominations,” he said.

The MP however said that his decision to vie as an independent candidate should not hinder development from the Jubilee government.

“President Uhuru Kenyatta should go on to gazette the new subcounty I had lobbied for because residents are the ones to benefit not me,” Dawood said.

He said he will use a mountain road as his logo and 'Rahim Choice Yako' as his slogan.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)