Kwale Women Rep aspirant Zuleikha Hassan. She has vowed to beat the incumbent, Zainab Chidzuga in the August polls. [Photo/ trendinginkenya.com]
The stage has been set for a major political showdown in the Kwale Women Representative race following the clearance of two leading contenders by the electoral body, IEBC.
Nominated Senator Zuleikha Hassan who is vying on an ODM ticket was given the nod to run for the seat by the Wafula Chebukati-led commission after presenting her nomination papers on Tuesday.Incumbent, Zainabu Chidzuga who is keen to defend the seat on a Jubilee Party ticket after breaking ranks with ODM was also given the limelight to run for the position.While exuding confidence to unseat Chidzuga, Zuleikha said she has what it takes to win the seat in her first attempt in elective politics.The Senator who is banking on the party’s huge following in the region is seen by political pundits as Chidzuga’s biggest nightmare.On the other hand, Chidzuga who is President Kenyatta’s point woman in the region that is considered an opposition turf warned her opponents to brace for a titanic battle.However, she will have to fight the ODM wave that is sweeping across the county.Also cleared by IEBC to run for the seat is Fatuma Tabwara.With Kwale slowly becoming a battle ground, the race for the seat may prove to be a close contest to call.