AUGUST POLLS

Waita not stepping down, picks Speaker Mwangangi as deputy

Waita and Mwangangi are expected to sign a pact.

In Summary

•Waita and Mwangangi are expected to sign a pact.

•On Wednesday, he had hinted at dropping his political ambitions after holding talks with some leaders.

Machakos County Assembly speaker Florence Mwangangi with former State House chief of staff and Machakos governor aspirant Nzioka Waita at Gelian Hotel in Machakos on March 24, 2022.
Machakos County Assembly speaker Florence Mwangangi with former State House chief of staff and Machakos governor aspirant Nzioka Waita at Gelian Hotel in Machakos on March 24, 2022.
Image: GEORGE OWITI

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Former State House chief of staff Nzioka Waita has picked Machakos County Assembly speaker Florence Mwangangi as his running mate in the August 9 Machakos governorship race.

Waita and Mwangangi this morning held a meeting at a Machakos hotel ahead of the announcement scheduled to take place at Gelian Hotel in Machakos town any time from now.

They are expected to sign an agreement pact as Mwangangi withdraws from the Machakos gubernatorial race. 

Mwangangi said she was approached by Waita so that they work together and she accepted.

Waita says their journey to Machakos White House has just begun.

He dispelled propaganda that he would withdraw from Machakos gubernatorial race for a political seat in Nairobi

On Wednesday, he had hinted at dropping his political ambitions after holding talks with some leaders.

"There comes a time when a man must consult widely, reflect consciously, sacrifice opportunities and make decisions that can enhance that can enhance his political destiny," Waita said.

Waita resigned as President Uhuru Kenyatta's Chief of Staff on February 9 to venture into politics.

He later announced that he would vie for the Machakos governor seat on Chama Cha Uzalendo party ticket, an affiliate of the Azimio la Umoja Movement.

There are about five candidates seeking to replace Governor Alfred Mutua. They are Waita, Mavoko MP Patrick Makau, ex-CAS Wavinya Ndeti, Deputy Governor Francis Maliti, and former Senator Johnson Muthama.

On Monday, Waita chaired his first National Executive Council meeting as Party Leader of the Chama Cha Uzalendo.

During the meeting, Nzioka said that they agreed to support the Azimio la Umoja Movement coalition's presidential candidate Raila Odinga in the August 2022 general elections.

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