By STEPHEN MAKABILA and PAUL MUTUA
Narc party leader and Water Minister, Charity Kaluki Ngilu, has hinted she could be in the presidential race after keeping political allies and foes guessing for months.
The Kitui Central MP, best known for her 1997 presidential bid, the first serious move by a female candidate, and her role in the Narc coalition in 2002 when she was christened “Mama Rainbow,” had before this latest hint been seemingly playing her cards close to her chest.
Despite being a party leader, Ms Ngilu has not hit the campaign trail for her second presidential bid, and had also not declared interest for any other elective post.
Speaking when Narc presented its compliance papers to the Registrar of Political Parties in April, Ngilu had indicated her party will field candidates for all elective positions and would select its presidential candidate at a National Delegates Conference (NDC).
The minister was , however, non-committal then on whether she would seek the party’s endorsement for the presidential ticket come the NDC, although she had last year equally hinted she could be on the presidential ballot.
And on Friday, Ngilu said, ““When the party’s NDC meets to pick its presidential candidate and says that I am the one, then I will take up the call because I know I am fit for the position.”
Ngilu was speaking during the memorial service of her late husband Engineer Michael Mwendwa Ngilu at their Ithookwe village home, Tungutu sub-location, Kitui Central constituency. Her husband died in July 2006 in South Africa.
Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo, former Cabinet minister Francis Nyenze, former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo and several Ukambani civic leaders were present .
“This country still yearns for real leadership and reformers. Previous regimes must give way for reformers to take this country forward,” the Kitui Central MP said.
Before Ngilu spoke, Kiema had led leaders in urging Ngilu to go for the presidency to end the anxiety among her supporters.
