Kilifi boss Amason Kingi has selected engineer Gideon Saburi as his running mate and expressed optimism about a good working relationship.
Saburi was unveiled at the Governor’s office on Wednesday
at a function attended by ODM leaders and members of the public drawn from across the country.
Before the ceremony, Kingi said noted his wrangles with Deputy Governor Kenneth Kamto
who jumped ship and joined President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee Party.
Kingi's rival Gideon Mung’aro (Kilifi North) later chose Kamto as his running mate.
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“A running mate should have zeal and must read from the same script as the governor for development to be realised," Kingi said.
"[The partner] I had for the last four years had his own aspirations that could not marry with mine. For the last two and a half years I have been managing the county without his input because we were pulling in different directions."
Both Kamto and Saburi come from the Rabai sub-tribe of the Mijikenda community.
Saburi served in Kingi’s administration as the CEC for Roads, Transport and Public Works. He was later moved to the trade, industry and tourism docket before resigning last year.
Kingi is expected to seek clearance from IEBC on Thursday morning.
“I thought it wise to unveil my running mate so we can begin our journey tomorrow as a team. I have worked with Saburi before and I know he is a team player and can deliver the Kilifi dream."
Saburi was born in Rabai and attended Isaac Nyundo Primary School there and Shimo La Tewa High School in Mombasa.
He went to JKUAT where he pursued of Bachelor of Science degree in engineering construction management. He pursued obtained a Masters Degree in the same field at Birmingham University in the UK.
The DG aspirant
worked at the Coast Development Authority before joining the Kilifi government.
Senator Stewart Madzayo, woman representative Asha Jumwa and Rabai MP William Kamoti attended the ceremony.
Kilifi professionals were represented by Professor Joseph Mwatela while the business community was represented by Jacob Saleri of the Chamber of Commerce.
Mwatela said the running mate choice will see tribal balance in the top administration.
“I have known Saburi for the last 10 years. Before he joined the government of Kilifi we had offered him a job at the Technical University of Mombasa where I was VC but he could not take the job because he had lost his wife," he said.
He promised to campaign for Kingi in Rabai.
Earlier in May, former Labour CS Kazungu Kambi launched his bid for Kilifi governor with a jibe at Kingi over attacks against the government.
Kingi, a die-hard supporter of NASA flag bearer Raila Odinga's ODM party, has been feuding with President Uhuru Kenya over party politics.
Kambi aka 'Kazungu Pesa', said the Kilifi government has misplaced priorities and that no county can develop without the national government's input.