The Koinange's family may be set to continue its over century-old political reign after the family fronted the late Kiambaa MP Paul Koinange's sister, Lennah Wanjiku Mbiu, to vie for the seat in the upcoming by-election.
Wanjiku, who is the last born child in the family of the late Minister Mbiyu Koinange, and cousin to Citizen TV News anchor Jeff Koinange, was front by her family in a special ceremony held at the family home on Saturday, April 17.
Wanjiku joins a growing list of nearly 20 aspirants in the race including the late Paul Koinange's opponent Kariri Njama.
She was fronted during a special ceremony in which MPs from Nyanza paid a visit to the family to mourn the death of the late lawmaker.
Speaking to the media, a relative noted that Lennah was picked after long deliberations, beating over 10 family members who were also eyeing the seat.
"We heard there are nearly 20 people who want Paul's seat, and in our family, there were over 10 people. We continued sieving and settled on Lennah to be our flagbearer yesterday (Friday, April 16)," stated the representative.
Accepting the challenge, Wanjiku thanked her family members as well as the lawmakers for trusting her with the role.
"I thank you so much for trusting me and looking at me and finding it worth to stand before you and take the responsibility that you trusted Paul with," stated Wanjiku.
Paul passed away due to Covid-19 related complications at the Nairobi Hospital on Wednesday, March 31.
The Legislator who was elected on a Jubilee Party ticket had served as a member of the National Assembly for Kiambaa since August 2017.
The late MP also served as the Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security.
Lennah Wanjiku Profile
Wanjiku made headlines during Koinange's family tussle over property mzee left behind.
She was reportedly allocated 617 acres of land from the vast property worth billions of shillings, in one of the longest property battle even witnessed in Kenya that began in 1981 after Koinange's death.
Mbiyu Koinange served as a powerful Minister during the founding President Jomo Kenyatta's era.
