Ngilu bows out from Kitui gubernatorial race, Raila promises her big position

Kitui governor Charity Ngilu has dropped from the race to defend her seat.

This is after Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga revealed that she will be appointed a Minister under the Azimio administration if they win in the August polls.

“You will decide between former Governor Julius Malombe and former Senator David Musila who will be your governor. I want to take mama to Nairobi,” Odinga said Wednesday while campaigning at Mutha Township in Kitui county.

The decision is anticipated to boost the Kitui governorship campaign, which has already heated up.

Ngilu’s predecessor Julius Malombe will face David Musila in the Kitui gubernatorial race.

Malombe is running for the seat with Wiper Party, while Musila is running under the Jubilee Party.

Negotiations between Ngilu and Musila took place in May, and the incumbent governor signalled that she was open to a compromise.

Wiper had left the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition at the time, and it was in the alliance’s best interests to field a single candidate to defeat Wiper’s flagbearer.

Musila also agreed to withdraw from the campaign in favor of Ngilu if the tables were flipped.

“If one of us goes national, they will likely support the other because we cannot support our competitors,” he said.

By organising the Azimo la Umoja women’s wing, Ngilu has been essential in Odinga’s campaign.