Kwale gubernatorial aspirant Chirau Mwakwere now ditches Raila’s ODM for Kalonzo’s Wiper

dennis kibet

March 2, 2017 8:19 PM

Earlier last month, he paid Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho a courtesy call on Tuesday for discussions on Coast politics.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka (right) received Kwale gubernatorial Aspirant Chirau Ali Mwakwere at the party’s headquarters in Lavington, Nairobi, on March 2, 2017.

Kwale gubernatorial aspirant Chirau Mwakwere has ditched ODM for Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper Party.

The former Kenyan ambassador to Tanzania who had earlier ditched the Jubilee Party for ODM early in February will now vie for the Kwale gubernatorial seat on a Wiper ticket.

In a strange twist, Mwakwere on Thursday denied he had joined ODM.

During the meeting, Joho assured Mwakwere that ODM will conduct free and fair nominations to secure the win in Kwale.

ODM Kwale leaders have since last year been lobbying to have Mwakwere given the party ticket.

Most suitable party

However, Mwakwere now says Wiper Party was the most suitable.

“The party for the people of Kwale and the country is Wiper. I have not been forced or coerced to join this party or any other party. The decision was based on information at my disposal,” Mr Mwakwere said.

He at the same time confirmed that former MP Simeon Mkala will be his running mate in the August elections.

Mwakwere had also been courted by the Party of National Unity (PNU) late last year.

PNU party leader and Meru Governor Peter Munya had chaired discussions to discuss the viability of giving the former Kenyan High Commissioner to Tanzania a direct ticket for Kwale governor.

PNU National vice chairman Juma Ngao had said that the party’s leaders resolved to campaign for Mwakwere as they search for candidates for other seats.

He said Mwakwere is being given priority because he is one of the founding members of PNU and “he will not be guaranteed a ticket in ODM” to replace Salim Mvurya who moved to the Jubilee Party.

Mwakwere is now set to guarantee a direct Wiper ticket to face it off most probably against an ODM candidate and the incumbent Governor Salim Mvurya who is already the Jubilee Party’s favoured choice in Kwale.