It has now been revealed that Murang’a gubernatorial hopeful Irungu Kang’ata was forced to choose a new running mate in order to be cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The sitting area senator had been given till Tuesday to show that claims made before the IEBC that his running companion Winnie Mwangi had failed to resign on time were untrue.
On Tuesday morning, the candidate went before the commission and named another running companion, 29-year-old Stephen Mburu Munania.
The former senate majority whip claimed that his opponents were to blame for his misfortunes. He said that his opponents complained to the IEBC about Mwangi’s resignation in an attempt to prevent his clearance.
Mwangi, for one, claimed that their camp was law-abiding and professional, and that they would not have done anything illegal.
“The IEBC shared a complaint drafted by a lawyer alleging that our deputy governor failed to resign from the University of Nairobi in due time,” said Kang’ata in a statement.
“The allegations were incorrect and based on a misunderstanding of employment law. Our view was that resignation takes effect from the date of filing the resignation letter. To aspirants, it takes effect from the date of salary stoppage,” the statement read.
Read: Kang’ata Not Eligible To Run for Murang’a Governor Over Running Mate’s Integrity – IEBC
He said his team took into account that the issue could have been a trap for prolonged litigation that would detract it from its campaigns and mutually agreed to replace Ms Mwangi.
Mburu is from Karega village in Gatanga sub-Mbugiti county’s sub-county.
He has a diplomacy degree and formerly served as an assistant County Commissioner, which he left to run for Kariara MCA.
“Winnie Mwangi remains part and parcel of the team. She will continue to offer her services as an expert in land matters,” Kang’ata said.
Others seeking to succeed Governor Mwangi wa Iria are; Wairagu Wa Maai (DP), Joseph Mbai (Usawa Kwa Wote), Henry Gaate (Independent) and Moses Mwangi (Safina Party), and Irungu Nyakera (Farmers Party).
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