Former High Commissioner to Tanzania Chirau Ali Mwakwere at a past event. Photo/ nation.co.ke
Former High Commissioner to Tanzania Chirau Ali Mwakwere decided to join Wiper Party after sensing defeat, Kwale governor hopefuls have claimed.
Dr Issah Chipera and Nicholas Zani have both said they are confident they would have defeated Mwakwere during the ODM Party nominations.
Chipera claimed that the former minister was left hopeless after ODM refused to give him a direct ticket, adding that Mwakwere stands no chance of winning the election.
“He has moved because he sensed defeat after ODM leadership denied him direct party nomination. We will wait for him at the ballot box on August 8 and beat him hands down. Mwakwere’s time has expired. The move he is making is one of someone drowning,” said Chipera, as quoted by the Standard.
On his part, Zani, who is the Kwale ODM chairperson, reiretated Chipera's sentiments that Mwakwere settled for Wiper after being denied a direct ticket by the ODM leadership.
“He did not want to face us in the nomination and kept on knocking on party leaders’ offices to get an assurance that he will be given free nomination, but they made it clear to him that he has to battle it out with others,” said Zani.
Mwakwere, however, denied the claims, adding that he did not fear the ODM party primaries.
“I told them of my willingness to join NASA and because politics is dynamic I chose Wiper after my own analysis and what was dictated to me by people of Kwale,” he said, as quoted by the daily.