Taita Taveta Governor John Mruttu is expected face off with his nephew in the August 8 polls. [Photo/ standardmedia.co.ke]
Having opted to run as an independent candidate after losing to Wundanyi MP Thomas Mwadeghu in the ODM party primaries, Taita Taveta Governor John Mruttu is confronted with a new challenge- facing his nephew in the August 8 polls.
In what is seen as an attempt to infiltrate Mruttu's support in his Taveta backyard, his bitter rival Dan Mwazo who is vying on a Jubilee Party ticket picked little-known Stanley Masamo Mruttu, a nephew to Governor Mruttu, as his running mate.Mruttu has retained his deputy Mary Ndiga Mwanyumba as his running mate during the August 8 contest.With majority of the candidates keen to spoil Mruttu's support in his backyard, they have settled on running mates from Taveta with ODM's Thomas Mwadeghu settling on soft-spoken Richard Tairo.According to analysts, the decision by Mwadeghu to settle on a Taveta running mate may be informed by the desire to lessen the bad blood between the two communities created during the tension-packed nominations and the subsequent court contests which Mruttu lost.Jacinta Mwatela, the only female candidate in the race has picked Alfred Mwangoma Shereta who has settled in Taveta as her running mate.Independent candidate Erastus Katani has settled on a Kamba running mate, Benedict Mutua Nzioka while Wiper candidate Granton Samboja has picked Majala Mlaghui who hails from Mwatate.On his part, former Immigration PS Emmanuel Kisombe has settled on youthful Richard Mwangeka who hails from Mwatate.