Caption: Machakos Governor hopeful Lemi Muia chats with youths after addressing dozens of university students’ leaders at the Machakos Peoples Park on Sunday afternoon. Photo: James M/hivisasa.com

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The battle for Machakos gubernatorial seat has entered a notch higher after a former senior officer in Governor Alfred Mutua’s administration joined the race to unseat the incumbent.

Lemi Muia, who served as chief officer in the Water department and who resigned from the government last year has already signed up for a Jubilee Party nomination whose ticket he intends to use to send his former boss packing.

The 37-year old PhD student at the University of Nairobi joins other few other aspirants who have also declared interest to run against Dr Mutua in the August 8, general elections.

They include former Kathiani MP Wavinya Ndeti, deputy governor Bernard Kiala, and East African Legislative Assembly MP Peter Mathuki.

Lemi who addressed a gathering of university students at the Machakos People’s Park Sunday afternoon said he has all it takes to be the next chief executive of Ukambani’s richest county.

“I want to offer my candidature to the people of Machakos and promise them that I will be a servant leader who will put their priorities first if they elect me as the second and next governor of Machakos,” he said.

The former chief officer fell out with Dr Mutua before resigning from the government where he served in various departments and remarkably that of Water and Irrigation.

He commands a political movement dubbed ‘Youth Power’ which comprises mainly youths drawn from universities and middle-level colleges across the country.

This writer confirmed the aspirant had already paid up the nomination fees to Jubilee Party totaling to Sh 500,000.

“We will also ensure that President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto bag over 70 percent of total votes cast in Machakos County,” he said.

Lemi declared that Machakos was not an opposition zone as widely touted by a section of opposition leaders, saying that JP would gunner much more votes than in 2013 general election.