Jubilee Embu Gubernatorial Candidate Kathuri Drops Bid, To Support UDA’s Mbarire

Jubilee Embu gubernatorial candidate Emilio Kathuri has switched to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) four days before the August 9 polls.

On Thursday, at a meeting with Deputy President William Ruto and his supporters in Karen, Kathuri declared that he was abandoning his campaign in favor of Cecily Mutitu Mbarire of the UDA.

When Kenyans go to the polls the next week, Ruto’s political party will prevail, said Kathuri, who said that Kenya Kwanza was the winning side.

“I want to take this opportunity to say thank you for having been accepted in the hustler family and I hereby state categorically that I am supporting my sister Cecily Mbarire,” Kathuri stated. 

Read: UDA Summons Three Embu Politicians Over Burning of Party Poll Material

Susan Nyaga, a candidate for Embu Woman Representative on the Jubilee Party ticket, was also welcomed by the DP.

Ruto said that the defections showed how popular Kenya Kwanza was in the Mount Kenya region.

The action by President Uhuru Kenyatta’s allies, he continued, will ensure Mbarire’s victory in the race for governor and solidify the Kenya Kwanza’s support for the president.

Additionally, should he win the presidential election on August 9, the UDA candidate promised the two candidates positions in his administration.

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“My good brother Emilio welcome to the hustler family. I also want to welcome Susan to the team and I want to agree with you that we need to give a chance to our sister Mbarire.

“I am confident that with the support of Kathuri, it is now done. Their teams will now join the UDA fraternity in Embu county and we are looking forward to a resounding victory on August 9,” Ruto stated.

The latest Gubernatorial ranking by Mizani Africa showed that UDA’s Mbarire is supported by more than half of Embu’s respondents thereby commanding a significant lead with 53.4%.

Devolution Empowerment Party Chairman Lenny Kivuti was in second place with 38%.

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Jubilee Party candidate, Kathuri came in third with only 5.4%.

2.2% said they were undecided and 1.0% went to others.