Nyokabi: Jubilee betrayed me, I'll run for Kiambu governor independently

Former Kiambu Woman Representative Ann Nyokabi will vie for governor as an independent candidate after what she termed betrayal by Jubilee Party.

Nyokabi, a relative of President Uhuru Kenyatta, accused Jubilee of short-changing her but expressed optimism about winning. She disowned reports of consensus among governor aspirants that led to the incumbent James Nyoro getting the Jubilee ticket.

She accused some Jubilee officials of denying her a chance to fight for the ticket even after paying the Sh200,000 nomination fee. Nyokabi said she was not invited for the interviews at Windsor Hotel, Nairobi, where Dr Nyoro was nominated as the Jubilee flag bearer. She said she read malice in the exercise.

“There has been a scheme to silence and block me from contesting for any elective post. My detractors fought hard to ensure I was denied the Jubilee ticket. They went ahead and denied me the opportunity to deputise the current governor when an opportunity presented itself,” she said.

The former Woman Rep said she is determined to become Kiambu’s first female governor.

“Kiambu residents must be left to make their own choice based on competence and ability. The fact that nomination has already been given out obviously locks me out of running on the Jubilee ticket. I have since moved on.” She told her opponents not to drag the Kenyatta family name into the August 9 polls. “I call upon those dragging the Kenyatta family name into politics to instead focus on selling their agenda.”

The male-dominated race is led by incumbent Governor Nyoro, former governor and Tujibebe Party leader William Kabogo, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria (Chama Cha Kazi), Senator Kimani Wamatangi (UDA), Thika Town MP Patrick Wainaina (independent) and two other female aspirants.

Nyokabi has hit the campaign trail and has been meeting youth and women. 

“My record as Woman Rep includes empowering more than 500 women in self-help groups, a clear testimony of how I can transform lives in Kiambu if elected governor. In this contest, the people want a performer irrespective of the party they belong to,” she said.

As Woman Representative, she was credited with initiating several projects, including the construction of a public library as well as a centre to address gender violence.