Kwale Governor hopeful Chirau Ali Mwakwere during a past event. He says he has the numbers to win the governor seat and will not step down for anyone. [Photo: blade.co.ke]
Kwale Governor hopeful Chirau Ali Mwakwere has said that he will not step down for ODM candidate Dr Issa Chipera in the quest to send incumbent Salim Mvurya packing in the August 8 general election.
Mwakwere says that he is the most popular candidate and that there is no way he can step down.
In an interview with the Daily Nation, the former Kenyan ambassador to Tanzania said that Dr Chipera, who is contesting the seat ODM ticket should be the one quitting the race because he does not have the numbers to win the seat.
Mwakwere, who is eyeing the governor seat on Wiper ticket said that he is more experienced and knowledgeable to be Kwale’s next governor.
“I want to make it clear that I will not step down for anyone because I have the numbers to win the Kwale seat,” he said as quoted by the Daily Nation.
The Wiper governor hopeful said that the incumbent will win re-election easily if he (Mwakwere) quits the race.
The former ambassador to Tanzania asked NASA top leaders to back his candidature stating that he is more popular than Dr Chipera.
On Saturday during a rally in Ukunda, Kwale, NASA presidential flag bearer Raila Odinga and his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka said that one candidate between Mwakwere and Chipera has to step down for another.
Raila said that incumbent Mvurya will win if Mwakwere and Chipera contest separately.
“We need this seat badly and I urge Mwakwere and Dr Chipera to sit down and decide on who should step down,” he said as quoted by the daily Nation.
Both Mwakwere and Chipera say that they have the numbers to win the seat.
Political analysts observe that Mvurya will be gifted the seat if Mwakwere and Dr Chipera insist on running separately.
Governor Mvurya ditched ODM last year and is seeking re-election on Jubilee party ticket.