Former Nairobi deputy governor candidate Prof Philip Kaloki is in the running to become the Makueni county assembly speaker.
Prof Kaloki who was Polycarp Igathe’s running mate in the August polls, is among the six candidates who had returned their nomination papers on Friday.
The others are; former Speaker Douglas Mbilu, his predecessor Stephen Ngelu, lawyer Dennis Mung’ata, businessman Muema Ndungi and former Ukia MCA Joseph Katumo.
According to the Nation, the aspirants stepped up their campaigns over the weekend ahead of the Wednesday vote.
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Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper party has the majority number of elected MCAs. The former vice president has, however, declined to back one the three aspirants, Prof Kaloki, Mr Mbilu and Mr Katumo, allied with the party.
Prof Kaloki abandoned his Makueni gubernatorial bid and was talked into deputizing Igathe. Mr Mbilu on the other hand stepped aside in favour of Suzanne Kiamba, in the race for Makueni MP.
Mr Mbilu was supposed to land a job at the Chief Minister’s office, a position Kalonzo would have held should Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance flagbearer Raila Odinga former government.
“In seeking the Speaker position, I’m not looking for a job or an opportunity to make money but to create an enabling environment for the county government to deliver services to the people,” Mr Ndungi told the Nation.
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Mr Mung’ata who is the favourite to win the seat is facing opposition due to his close ties with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr.
“I’m an independent person who believes in democratic processes. The governor should be given a chance to deliver his manifesto so that he can be evaluated at the end of the term rather than being frustrated because of political competition,” he asserted.
The lawyer reckons Prof Kaloki is his closest challenger but avers that he is most likely to frustrate Governor Kilonzo Jnr as he (Kaloki) has his sights trained on the gubernatorial seat in the next general elections.
But Prof Kaloki dismissed the claims as “propaganda” as he played the regional balancing card.
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“Mbooni has the governor, Kilome has the Woman Rep and Makueni has the senator. At the same time, Makueni has already produced a Speaker,” Prof Kaloki said.
Meanwhile, Jinaani Nzioka Mbiuva returned his nomination papers but was not cleared, because he did not meet the set requirements.
Activist Mutunga Mutuku did not return his nomination papers.
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