Maendeleo Chap Chap party leader and Machakos governor, Alfred Mutua, has denied reports that he is running for the Mwala parliamentary seat in the August polls.
In a statement dated Monday, May 23, Mutua stated that his name will not be on the ballot when Kenyans go to the polls on August 9.
He maintained that he is currently concentrating on popularising the bid of deputy president, William Ruto, and actively campaigning for Kenya Kwanza political faction.
"For avoidance of doubt, I wish to clarify that at this particular time, I am not running for any elective position in the forthcoming elections. I am concentrating on campaigning for the Kenya Kwanza coalition so that Kenya can get a new system where dreams can come true," Mutua explained.
Reports on Mutua's running for a political seat emerged after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) released the names of contestants seeking elective seats in August.
The list indicated that Alfred Nganga Mutua had presented his papers to the electoral commission as a contestant for the Mwala parliamentary seat on a Maendeleo Chap Chap party ticket.
This means that he would face off with Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate and incumbent Member of Parliament, Vincent Musyoka alias Kawaya.
Kawaya has been an ardent supporter of Ruto and has led a number of his campaigns in the Ukambani region.
The decision by Mutua to pull out of the race comes as a blessing to Kawaya as it gives him a competitive advantage over the other contenders.
Mutua recently ditched Azimio la Umoja One Kenya and joined the Kenya Kwanza coalition. While defending his move to decamp from Raila Odinga-led coalition, Mutua noted that the coalition was being run like a secret cult.
In Kenya Kwanza, he disclosed that Ruto offered him a generous deal including awarding his party a number of positions in the government should they the DP clinch the presidency.
Despite the assurance and promise of positions in Kenya Kwanza, a section of the alliance's key supporters have decided to contest for the political seats led by Bungoma Senator, Moses Masika Wetangula.
The Ford Kenya party leader, who was promised the Speaker of the Senate position by the Kenya Kwanza coalition, will defend his senatorial seat in the August poll.
Wetang’ula and Amani National Coalition (ANC) leader, Musalia Mudavadi, however, have to deliver 70 per cent of the 2.2 million votes in the Western bloc counties of Kakamega, Busia, Bungoma, Vihiga and Trans Nzoia to enjoy the fruits of a Kenya Kwanza government.
