Nyali parliamentary seat aspirant Crispus Waithaka addressing journalists in Tononoka, Mombasa. He will be vying for the seat on a Maendeleo Chap Chap ticket. Photo: Mwega Mohammed/ hivisasa.com
Gikuyu, Embu and Meru Association (Gema) Mombasa County chapter has endorsed Crispus Waithaka for the Nyali parliamentary seat.
Addressing journalists in Tononoka on Monday, the association members expressed confidence in Waithaka clinching the seat."I'm officially declaring interest in the Nyali parliamentary seat. There has been idle talk concerning our stand as the Gema community in Mombasa and I would like to announce that I will vie for the seat on a Maendeleo Chap Chap ticket,” said Waithaka.Waithaka, who is the association chairman, however, said that the association will back Jubilee candidates for the presidency and the Mombasa gubernatorial seat.He said he decided to settle for Maendeleo Chap Chap because the Gema community has been sidelined by other parties."We the Gema community have been marginalised for a long time. We didn't go for Jubilee at the constituency level because a list has already been drafted and aspirants have been planted not only in Jubilee but also in Wiper,” said Waithaka."Some of these parties no longer hold free and fair nominations. We only had two options; Maendeleo Chap Chap and PNU, which can take care of our interest,” he added.He further accused Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho of frustrating members of the community by destroying their business premises at Kongowea Market.