•Nyambane also hails from Nyaribari Masaba will now lead DP William Ruto’s campaigns in Kisii County.
•In a statement issued on Monday, he defended his decision to pull out of the race.
Image: ANGWENYI GICHANA
Nairobi-based lawyer and businessman Okeng’o Nyambane says his decision to pull out of the Kisii County senator race was informed by regional balancing and clan matrix.
“It was through the persuasion of my party leader that I was advised to consider allowing one Omonyaribari that is Nyaribari Masaba MP Ezekiel Machogu to go for a county seat,” he said.
Nyambane also hails from Nyaribari Masaba will now lead DP William Ruto’s campaigns in Kisii County.
“I humbly accept new duties assigned to me by the UDA party and promise to deliver diligently. I declare my unwavering support for my party leader and I’m committed to ensuring that our region votes overwhelmingly for Ruto,” he added.
In a statement issued on Monday, he defended his decision to pull out of the race.
“Believe me, clan matrix is a strong factor in Gusii. I am a principled and loyal person... We stand strong to defend the decision,” he said.
“The move I made might or might not compromise my political future but again I will always stand tall and proud as one who agitated for progressive politics in our country.”
DP Ruto prevailed upon the youthful aspirant to drop his bid in favour of Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi.
The DG who decamped from ODM will go for the senator’s seat on a UDA ticket.
He had initially declared his interest in the governor’s seat but will not support the party’s aspirant Nyaribariu Masaba MP Ezekiel Machogu.
Machogu, his running mate Ogamba Migos, and Maangi traversed the county on Saturday and Sunday.
Nyambane’s supporters welcomed his decision to shelve his senatorial ambitions.
Kisii County youth president Kevin Mosomi said: “We have accepted the position he has been given and we shall comb the entire county campaigning for the party’s candidates.”
Another supporter Osano Masega called for unity among party aspirants.
“All the aspirants should work together to ensure we win majority seats in Kisii,” said Masega.
Zipporah Kemunto, a women’s leader, called for peaceful and issue-based campaigns.
“I want to hail Nyambane because, after consultations, he dropped his bid and remained in the party,” she said.
Maangi will square it out for the senator’s seat with ODM’s Richard Onyonka and Jubilee party’s Omingo Magara. They will seek to replace Sam Ongeri who is eyeing the governor’s seat on a DAP Kenya ticket.