Chege Njuguna Clinches UDA Ticket for Kandara By-election

Chege Njuguna will fly the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) flag in the Kandara Parliamentary race in January 2023.

Mr Njuguna received 7,826 votes during the UDA primaries held on Saturday. He beat 13 other aspirants to clinch the ticket.

Coming in second was Titus Mbuchu who garnered 5,335 and was followed by Injinia Stephen Mwaura who got 4, 414 votes.

Media personality Waithira Muithirania received 1,267 votes, while Maina Kamau, who deputized former Murang’a governor Mwangi wa Iria, got 2,191 votes.

Read: Section of UDA Members Accuse CS Wahome of Intimidating Kandara MP Aspirants

During the August polls, Waithira ran for the Woman representative position on a Jubilee Party ticket but lost to UDA’s Betty Maina.

Mr Njuguna unsuccessfully ran for the MP position on a Chama Cha Kazi ticket and finished second, behind the immediate former MP Alice Wahome, who is now the Cabinet Secretary for Water.

Contenders had voiced allegations that Wahome had a favorite candidate that she was pushing for the ticket.

Last week, the CS told the electorate that the President William Ruto-led party was eager to retain the seat.

Read Also: Wangui Ng’ang’a Dumps UDA, To Vie for Kandara MP Seat as an Independent Candidate

Wahome noted that residents are aware of her position but underlined the importance of electing a progressive leader without officially endorsing one.

“You know I was voted in through the UDA party and the government does not want to let go of that seat,” she said.

During the by-elections scheduled on January 5 of next year, Chege will compete against 26 other candidates.

Due to the popularity of the party region, the nominations will probably determine who is elected as the MP.

UDA party won all seven MP seats as well as the positions of woman representative, senator, and governor in Murang’a County.