7 ODM aspirants eye Malindi Mp

MALINDI legislator Dan Kazungu's nomination to the Cabinet has drawn intense interest in the by-election, with seven aspirants eyeing the ODM ticket.

President Uhuru Kenyatta nominated Kazungu Mining CS in a November 24 Cabinet reshuffle.

Kazungu and other nominees were vetted by Parliament this week. Kilifi ODM vice chairman Teddy Mwambire told the Star on the phone ODM is the party of choice for most aspirants.

ODM, which sponsored Kazungu to Parliament, has vowed to retain the seat.

"We are planning fair nominations to ensure ODM wins," Mwambire said. "We know Jubilee wants to weaken us but they are in for a rude shock."

The chairman termed the expected polls a must-win battle for ODM, "as it points to how the 2017 battle will be".

Coast rivals Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung'aro are marshalling their supporters to be ready when the seat is declared vacant.

Mung'aro represented Malindi for a decade before shifting base. Jubilee MPs are waiting for Mung'aro to identify the right candidate.

"He knows the area so well, having been mayor and MP there," TNA's Kinango MP Gonzi Rai said. A win for a Mung'aro-backed candidate in the by-election could endear him to Kilifi county voters ahead of his 2017 governorship bid, while Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi hopes to prove he still has his grip on voters by delivering the seat to ODM, boosting his re-election bid.

Elders led by Malindi District Cultural Association secretary Joseph Mwarandu held a three-hour consultative meeting (dhome) to discuss the way forward, as many political players in Kilifi were caught offguard by Kazungu's elevation to the Cabinet.

"We held a consultative meeting at the Mekatilili wa Menza Cultural Centre, but could not agree on which candidate to back because we have been caught off-guard by President Uhuru Kenyatta's appointment of MP Dan Kazungu," said Mwarandu.

Of the aspirants who had lined up for the seat come 2017 Kilifi woman representative Aisha Jumwa is in a dilemma whether to resign or not, even as the elders urged her to wait for 2017.

Apart from ODM's Jumwa, who enjoys cordial ties with Mung'aro, former MP Lucas Maitha, a close ally of Deputy President William Ruto's, is likely to contest on a URP ticket.

Other contestants are Philip Charo, Fuad Wasi Kombe, Sanga Barawa and Katana Mwamure.

Source