DP Ruto settles on candidate to unseat Amos Kimunya
By Joshua Cheloti
The race for the Kipipiri parliamentary seat in the upcoming general election has taken a new twist.
This is after Francis Chihi shelved his ambitions to vie for the seat on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket.
Chihi, a key mobilizer for the Jubilee party in Nyandarua County during the 2017 general election has agreed to back East Africa Legislative Assembly Member of Parliament Wanjiku Muhia.
The agreement was brokered by Deputy President William Ruto during a meeting between the two leaders at his Karen Official residence on Tuesday, April 5, 2022.
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Deputy President William Ruto, Francis Chihi and Wanjiku Muhia at his official Karen Residence on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. |Courtesy| DP Ruto Twitter|[/caption]
Making the announcement, the DP said Chihi will now be focusing on the UDA presidential campaigns.
“Good gesture Mr Francis Chihi for backing East Africa Legislative Assembly MP Wanjiku Muhia for the Kipipiri Parliamentary seat. Mr Chihi will concentrate on Presidential campaigns,” the DP posted on his official Twitter handle alongside photos of the two leaders.
Wanjiku Muhia will now be flying the UDA ticket in Kipipiri.
She will face off with the current MP Amos Kimunya, who is hoping to retain the seat on a Jubilee party ticket.
Kimunya who doubles up as the National Assembly leader of the Majority is among a few leaders in the Mount Kenya region that have opted to stick with President Uhuru Kenyatta, who has since declared support for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga under the Azimio la Umoja coalition.
The agreement between Francis Chihi and Wanjiku Muhia comes just days before the UDA party primaries set for April 14, 2022.
For the past few days, the DP has been working on reaching a consensus with aspirants seeking the UDA ticket, in an attempt to avoid a fallout that might result from the disputed primaries.
Over the weekend, Kirinyaga senatorial aspirant Munene Njiru dropped out of the race in favor of Kirinyaga County Assembly majority leader Kamau Murango who will now be flying the UDA ticket.
[caption id="attachment_16426" align="alignnone" width="846"]
Deputy President William Ruto and Wanjiku Muhia at his official Karen Residence on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. |Courtesy| DP Ruto Twitter|[/caption]
Deputy President William Ruto, Francis Chihi and Wanjiku Muhia at his official Karen Residence on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. |Courtesy| DP Ruto Twitter|[/caption]
Making the announcement, the DP said Chihi will now be focusing on the UDA presidential campaigns.
“Good gesture Mr Francis Chihi for backing East Africa Legislative Assembly MP Wanjiku Muhia for the Kipipiri Parliamentary seat. Mr Chihi will concentrate on Presidential campaigns,” the DP posted on his official Twitter handle alongside photos of the two leaders.
Wanjiku Muhia will now be flying the UDA ticket in Kipipiri.
She will face off with the current MP Amos Kimunya, who is hoping to retain the seat on a Jubilee party ticket.
Kimunya who doubles up as the National Assembly leader of the Majority is among a few leaders in the Mount Kenya region that have opted to stick with President Uhuru Kenyatta, who has since declared support for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga under the Azimio la Umoja coalition.
The agreement between Francis Chihi and Wanjiku Muhia comes just days before the UDA party primaries set for April 14, 2022.
For the past few days, the DP has been working on reaching a consensus with aspirants seeking the UDA ticket, in an attempt to avoid a fallout that might result from the disputed primaries.
Over the weekend, Kirinyaga senatorial aspirant Munene Njiru dropped out of the race in favor of Kirinyaga County Assembly majority leader Kamau Murango who will now be flying the UDA ticket.
[caption id="attachment_16426" align="alignnone" width="846"] Deputy President William Ruto and Wanjiku Muhia at his official Karen Residence on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. |Courtesy| DP Ruto Twitter|[/caption] What's Your Reaction?
