- “These fake news is being peddled by some of our competitors, who have sensed defeat. Some have no development track records,” Mwamisi said.
- The spokesman said those who had resorted to such propaganda have questionable academic credentials.
Image: GEORGE OWIT
Reports that Machakos gubernatorial candidate Nzioka Waita has withdrawn from the race are fake.
The CCU leader’s campaign spokesman Caleb Mwamisi said such information is fake news peddled by their opponents and should be ignored.
Mwamisi, who spoke to the Star on Monday, said the former State House Chief of Staff is in the race to the end.
“It’s the Machakos people who approached him for the seat even before he got into politics. They wanted a person who can help them achieve development in the county.
“This fake news is being peddled by some of our competitors who have sensed defeat. Some have no development track records, they have no capacity to deliver in Machakos county,” Mwamisi said.
The spokesman said those who had resorted to such propaganda have questionable academic credentials.
“They are incompetent, we even wonder how they were cleared by the electoral commission,” he said.
Mwamisi, however, didn’t mention names.
He was responding to a purported press release by Waita dated June 13 and disowned the document circulating on social media.
“After a nightlong consultation with my family and team, we have resolved to honour persuasions by Kalonzo Musyoka and Raila Odinga, to postpone our gubernatorial candidature to a later date.
"This is to allow the Azimio team to field a single governor candidate in the August election,” the purported press release read.
Mwamisi said their opponents had panicked following the mood during Raila’s Machakos tour on Sunday.
“There was defiance from the people of Machakos when Raila visited Masinga, Matuu, Masii and Mavoko. Whenever Kalonzo stood to say that Waita should pave way for Wavinya Ndeti, the people refused.
“They chanted Waita’s name and insisted that he must be in the race. Let’s remember the tenacity of democracy so that the people of Machakos can be allowed to create a government that comes from them. A government by the people, of the people and for the people,” he said.
The spokesman said there is no way Waita could pave way for a candidate who is being imposed on the people.
He said people should be allowed to elect the candidate they want.
“Waita is not relying on any godfather. He has gone to the people by himself through his CCU party. He is banking on the people of Machakos to take him to the white house. He is banking on the people and God for him to become Machakos governor,” Mwamisi said.
He said Kalonzo should be a father figure who allows a fair contest in Machakos so that the people can elect the person they want as governor.
“Baba (Raila) rose above those waves, he didn’t take sides. Ndo maana tunasema, Baba aitwe baba. (That's why we are rallying behind him). So, when Kalonzo fights him, it’s quite unfair,” Mwamisi said.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)