Murang’a senator Kembi Gitura has rubbished those who are urging independent candidates from the county to withdraw their candidatures for various seats in the forthcoming general elections.
Senator Kembi who is seeking to be re-elected as the county senator said those vying as independent candidates have a constitutional right to vie and no one should rubbish their candidature.
People of Murang’a, he said are the ones to decide who is to be their leaders and those calling on the independent candidates to withdrawal are just scared of losing in the elections.
In a press briefing on Saturday in Murang’a, the senator who is running independently castigated some county leaders saying they don’t embrace democracy and they should leave people vying as independent and those in other parties rather than Jubilee to do their campaigns peacefully.
“Some leaders want to take people back to politics of 1970s and 1980s where there was no democracy and veterans like Kenneth Matiba and Charles Rubia among others fought for the second liberation and so let’s not try to bar people from vying,” noted Kembi.
Last week Murang’a county women representative Sabina Chege called upon independent candidates to step down and back Jubilee candidates.
Chege stated that Murang’a County is a stronghold of the Jubilee party and those vying as independent are acting as if they are in opposition.
Kembi reiterated that the President needs all candidates including those who are friendly to Jubilee party.
“Although we are independent, we are vigorously campaigning for the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto,” he added.
He posed “In what capacity did the county women representative tell independent candidates to step down and what is she offering them instead. She must realize all the parties supporting the president should be allowed to thrive.”
Some leaders, Kembi said want to be elected to their positions without being opposed saying that’s a way of killing democracy.
About the President’s political function in the county last week, Kembi said he was shocked to see some people trying to evict independent candidates from the event.
“On my case I was invited to the function and there were many leaders who are not seeking elective positions who attended the political trail so no one could categorically say the function was purely a Jubilee party affair,” he stressed.
During the president’s visit to Murang’a County last Wednesday, chaos erupted at Blue Post Hotel before the arrival of President Kenyatta when some Jubilee candidates tried to evict independent candidates from the function.
“What I witnessed in Blue post, was immaturity by some leaders from this county and people of Murang’a should know what kind of leaders they want to elect come August 8,” noted Kembi.
