Kiambu Speaker Stephen Ndichu has withdrawn from the governorship campaign and announced his candidacy for the Senate on the United Democratic Alliance ticket.
“After a lengthy soul searching, l have the privilege to hereby announce I have stepped down from vying for Governorship of Kiambu and will now be focused on the senate seat,” Ndichu said on Thursday.
The speaker appealed to his supporters and the leaders of the UDA party to back him in his new bid.
He said he made the choice to abandon his bid after a lot of soul searching and long discussions with other like-minded persons.
Read: Kiambu MCAs Give Speaker Stephen Ndichu 24 Hours to Resign
“I have been implored upon to agree to enter into negotiated democracy that has seen me quit the governor seat race for the senate seat,” said the speaker.
He thanked his supporters for their unwavering support and stated that he is ready to compete for the elective post.
“I want to pledge that should they defeat me in the nominations, l will fully support whoever will win to the end. Equally, should I defeat them, l kindly request them to support me as well,” he continued.
Ndichu will be looking to defeat former MCA and CEC Karungo Thang’wa in the UDA primaries which are slated for April.
Read Also: Kimani Wamatangi Dumps Jubilee for UDA, To Contest for Kiambu Governor Seat
Former Kiambu speaker Irungu Gathii (Tujibebe Party), Machel Waikenda, and Mutonya Njenga (both of Chama cha Kazi) are among those eyeing the senate seat.
The Jubilee party ticket is being contested by John Mugwe, Beth Wangui, and Eric Gathogo.
In 2017, the Speaker unsuccessfully ran for the Senate seat but lost to incumbent Senator Kimani Wamatangi.
He was then chosen as Kiambu Assembly Speaker after being a staunch Jubilee supporter.
Read Also: Change of Heart for Thika Town MP “Jungle” as he Rejoins UDA, To Vie for Kiambu Governor Seat
Thus far, five individuals all of whom are part of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance are eyeing the Kiambu governorship though on various parties.
Former Kiambu governors Ferdinand Waititu (UDA) and William Kabogo are among those who have joined Kenya Kwanza.
Senator Wamatangi (UDA), Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria (Chama Cha Kazi), Thika MP Patrick Wainaina (UDA), and Mwende Gatabaki (UDA), are also among those seeking to unseat the incumbent Governor James Nyoro.
Ndichu urged leaders vying for the governorship to come together and endorse a single candidate.
Read Also: Moses Kuria to Run for Kiambu Governor Seat
If they all run for the position, he cautioned, they might lose to Nyoro.
More than 30 Members of the Kiambu County Assembly (MCAs) two weeks ago decamped from Jubilee to UDA.
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