Maendeleo Chap Chap secretary general Stephen Kilonzo has decamped to the UDA party to vie for Kitui senator in 2022.
Kilonzo in 2017 was the first runner's up after he was defeated by Senator Enoch Wambua in the Kitui senatorial seat.
Speaking on phone, Kilonzo said he had however not officially communicated his defection to Chap Chap leaders. He said UDA was more accommodative.
Kilonzo was to battle it out with lawyer Wilfred Mati who is also eyeing the Kitui senatorial seat on the quest on whom to fly the Chap Chap ticket.
Kilonzo said he had left the field open for Nyamu Mutua's close friend.
“I consulted widely and negotiated with UDA top officials. I find the party accommodative. It is now my new home on whose ticket I will seek the senatorial seat,” he said.
Kilonzo said for him to run for the Kitui senate seat on a party that did not have a presidential candidate was a big dilemma.
He said he had problems in 2017 convincing Kitui people to vote for him as their senator while his party leader was not on the presidential ballot.
“In 2017, I ran on a party that did not have a presidential candidate who I could sell to help me implement my promises,” Kilonzo said.
“I am now more at home because I will run on UDA that has a formidable presidential candidate in DP William Ruto.”
Besides Kilonzo, incumbent Wambua of the Wiper party and Nyamu, entrepreneur Muinde Mutuka and Nairobi businessman Allan Sila are seeking the Kitui senatorial seat in 2022.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
