Maendeleo Chap Chap Senatorial candidate, Mutua Katuku has urged Machakos residents to vote for him and ignore claims by his opponents that he will not deliver in his oversight duty if elected to the Senate.
Speaking in Kithyoko, Kivaa, Masinga Sub-county of Machakos Monday, Katuku clarified that although he was in the same political party as the sitting Governor Dr. Alfred Mutua, nothing will prevent him from discharging his responsibility to oversight the executive.
The former Water Minister noted that contrary to propaganda being peddled by his opponents, the constitution does not outlaw a situation where a county senator and governor subscribe to the same political outfit.
“Those claiming I will not be in a position to oversee the executive just because the Governor and I come from the same political party are merely misleading voters. The country’s constitution is clear that the Senator and Governor may be from the same political party,” said Katuku.
He said the claim was a desperate ploy by his opponents to dissuade voters from picking the most qualified candidate to occupy the vacant position left behind by the late Boniface Kabaka.
Mutua cited several scenarios across the country where governors and senators were elected from the same political party and have been performing their different roles independently.
He, however, cautioned residents against voting for a candidate who will not coordinate with the governor, something he warned may deny the residents speedy development.
On his part, Yatta legislator, Charles Kilonzo warned voters against voting a candidate who is only after picking unnecessary wars with the executive in the name of oversight.
“The time remaining is too short and we can’t afford to have more time wasted on unnecessary fighting. In the first term, we all witnessed how former Senator Johnstone Muthama frustrated Dr. Mutua’s development agenda in the county,” said Kilonzo.
The leaders who were also accompanied by former Machakos Women Representative, Susan Musyoka and dozens of Members of the Machakos County Assembly addressed rallies in Kithyoko, Kivaa and Masinga.
Among the cleared candidates are Ms. Agnes Kavindu Muthama on a Wiper ticket, Urbanus Muthama vying on UDA ticket and Francis Musembi Munyambu (Independent)
Others include Sebastian Nzau Nthama (Independent), Simeon Kioko Kitheka (Grand Dream Development Party) and John Kioko Musingi (Muungano Party).
Already, the candidates have kicked off their campaigns in earnest. A spot check by KNA show that the election might turn out to be a two-horse race between Ms. Kavindu Muthama who is an ex-wife of the former area Senator and Chair of the newly-formed UDA party Johnson Muthama and the UDA candidate Urbanus Muthama.
by Rachael Kilonzo
