NAIROBI, Kenya, July 23 (Xinhua) — Murang’a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria, who recently dropped his presidential bid as a member of the Usawa Kwa Wote Party, has made a sensational promise to rally all residents of the coffee-producing county behind Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga.
Governor Wa Iria made the pledge on Saturday during his homecoming in Murang’a County, just days after endorsing Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua.
Governor Wa Iria, who is in his final term, was first elected in 2013 under The National Alliance Party with 336,070 votes.
“I have 600,021 voters, and I have shown them the way to go, and we have a strong relationship,” he said.
The second-term Governor, who is in his final term, was first elected in 2013 under The National Alliance Party, with 336,070 votes.
He was re-elected in 2017 as a member of the Jubilee Party, receiving 349, 904 votes.
On July 19, the Usawa Kwa Wote Party Leader joined forces with Odinga, claiming that they both share the same ideologies and aspirations for Kenyans.
“When I was in trouble, it was Odinga who reached out and asked me what was the problem,” Wa Iria said, referring to his failed presidential bid in August.
Wa Iria was barred from running in the election by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) after failing to meet the required threshold.
During the rally on Saturday, Wa Iria claimed that Odinga’s opponents, the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, were to blame for his problems.
“They planned to take me out of the picture so they could claim the votes in Mirang’a, but I want to tell them that they will fail,” Wa Iria said.
With only sixteen days until the election, Governor Wa Iria promised to get right to work in popularizing Odinga and Karua’s candidacies.
The former Prime Minister, who welcomed Wa Iria into the fold, promised the people of Murang’a to adopt some of his policies, most notably the “one home, one cow” pledge.
Odinga asked Murang’a residents to support his campaign in August, promising to combat corruption.
“I will protect your taxes and ensure that they are not plundered, and I will use the money to develop our country,” he promised.
Karua, for her part, challenged residents to think carefully about who they will vote for in August.
“Corruption is the root of our problems in the country, but that can be changed when you vote in two weeks,” she said.
According to figures released by the electoral body following an audit of the voters roll, Murang’a County had 647, 806 registered voters.
