Thirteen aspirants to face off in UDA nominations for Kandara seat

Aspirants were invited for a meeting by the UDA officials where National Elections Board Chairman Antony Mwaura assured them of transparent, free and fair nominations. [File, Standard]

The battle for Kandara parliamentary seat has intensified with 13 aspirants set to battle it out in UDA nominations on Saturday.

The seat fell vacant after President William Ruto appointed Alice Wahome as Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary.

Aspirants eyeing the UDA ticket are Andrew Kahenya, Lucy Ngugi, Chege Njuguna, Raphael Kiome, Injinia Stephen Mwaura, Titus Njau and Injini Macharia Kamau.

Others are Radio Journalist Evelyn Waithira Muithirania, Ngacha Kinuthia and former Murang'a Deputy Governor Maina Kamau who served as Kandara MP between 2007 and 2012.

Last week the aspirants were invited for a meeting by the UDA officials where National Elections Board Chairman Antony Mwaura assured them of transparent, free and fair nominations.

"We have no preferred candidate in Kandara as the one who will be elected by the people of Kandara on November 26 will be backed by the party in the by-election slated in January," said Eng Mwaura.

Kahenya who runs Andrew Kahenya Foundation said in the past 10 years they have been promoting education and nurturing young businessmen in the community.

"I am not new in Kandara like most of my competitors as I pay school fees for many students in the constituency having been brought up in a humble community," said Kahenya when he addressed a meeting in Muruka.

Injnia has been holding six meetings daily to secure support of the residents.

"I am the most experienced person to replace Wahome having vied for the position in the last three elections," he said.