Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi has asked Senator Sam Ongeri to withdraw from the governor race because he is old.
Ongeri is 83.
Maangi said it is time for a young leader to take over from Governor James Ongwae who retires next year.
“I respect Ongeri but I want to tell him to withdraw from the gubernatorial race because of his age. It is time for a young leader to take over the county’s leadership,” he told the Star.
Maangi, who has indicated that he will defect from UDA to ODM, said he is better suited to carry on Ongwae's work.
Those who have expressed interest in the county’s top seat include Maangi, Ongeri, MPs Simba Arati (Dagorretti North) and Ezekiel Machogu (Nyaribari Masaba), Women Representative Janet Ong’era and Gusii Governance Watch secretary Rachael Otundo.
“I want to assure our people that I am determined to complete all projects initiated by Governor Ongwae if I am elected to office,” Maangi said.
He urged his competitors to stop engaging in abusive politics.
Speaking separately, Ongwae, Ongeri and Ong’era told Arati and Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka to stop abusing other leaders and instead sell their agenda and policies.
Arati has picked Onyonka as his running mate.
“We are telling Arati and Onyonka the tactics they are currently employing of attacking and abusing other leaders that will not help them,” Ongwae said on the phone.
Ongeri urged aspirants to respect each other.
“I sometimes get astonished when the two [Arati and Onyonka] use abusive language during their campaigns. Residents know who they will elect at the end of the day,” he said
Ong’era urged the two to engage in peaceful campaigns.
But Arati and Onyonka said they respect all leaders.
“We have never abused anybody. We have been crisscrossing the county selling our policies and agenda,” Arati said.
Edited by Josephine M. Mayuya
