- “I don’t understand why they fear me. Why should someone try to push a weak candidate out of the race, if they are strong?" Malala said.
- He is among the seven candidates cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission for the race to succeed Governor Wycliffe Oparanya.
Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala says he is ready to face his opponents in the gubernatorial race.
The Kenya Kwanza candidate said his opponents should man up and face him at the ballot instead of engaging in unorthodox means to block him from the race.
The senator spoke during a rally at Nambilima market in Lugari constituency on Wednesday.
He said his rivals should look for votes and stop wasting time plotting on how to remove him from the race.
“I don’t understand why they fear me. If they think I am a push over, let them come. I'll defeat them at the ballot in the morning. Why should someone try to push a weak candidate out of the race, if they are strong?
“I have been preparing for this battle for four years. I have put all the machinery in place. The head of my secretariat has put up a strong team of campaigners and mobilisers, ready to take on our rivals and win,” Malala said.
He is among the seven candidates cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission for the race to succeed Governor Wycliffe Oparanya.
Others in the race are Fernandez Barasa (ODM), Cyrus Jirongo (UDP), Samuel Omukoko Maendeleo Democratic Party (MDP), Suleiman Sumba (Kanu), Michael Osundwa (independent) and Austine Otieno (independent).
Malala said elected leaders had agreed that the leadership of the county should be rotational, to avoid disharmony.
“We had agreed with Ayub Savula that he tries from the northern and I try my luck from central. However, I didn’t know that he was working to have the seat retained in the south,” he said.
Savula who was set to contest the seat on Democratic Action Party of Kenya ticket dropped from the race a month ago, to deputise ODM's Barasa.
Malala promised to provide free lunches for all day secondary school learners and to enrol all residents aged 60 and above on the NIHF cover.
He said he will also establish a revolving fund to offer affordable credit to small scale traders and supply piped water to all households in Kakamega, if elected governor.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)