Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia on Saturday, May 28, announced that he had selected Isaac Maina Gitura as his running mate in place of Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA) Regional Director Engineer Joseph Mungai Mbugua.
In a statement seen by Kenyans.co.ke, Kimemia explained that upon consultation with his legal team, he realized that Mbugua may not have been eligible for nomination as a running mate as he seeks to defend his Nyandarua seat.
He noted that at the time of nominating the KERRA Director, the government official had not resigned from office six months prior to the election as demanded of public servants by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
"In view of the stipulated legal deadline by IEBC, I was duly advised to replace Eng. Mbugua. After further consultation I have the pleasure of picking Quantity Surveyor Isaac Maina Gitura as my new running mate," he declared.
Kimemia added that while he was alive to the fact a petition had been filed to challenge the directive by the Commission in court, he wanted to play safe as he awaited the determination of the case by the High Court in June 2022.
He added that the name of his new running mate had already been submitted to IEBC by the Jubilee Party. The county boss showered his deputy governor designate with praise, declaring that he was as qualified for the job as Mbugua.
Notably, the KERRA Director was promised a lucrative county job should the incumbent Nyandarua governor reclaim his seat in the upcoming August 9 General Elections.
"I urge Nyandarua residents to join me in welcoming Gitura to our team. I have assured Eng Mbugua that he will be free to join my cabinet in the next dispensation and will remain an integral part of our transformation agenda," he remarked.
The legality of the change remains in question as Section 18 of the Elections Act (2011) only allows a gubernatorial candidate to change a deputy governor nominee after submission of the name to IEBC
"Provided that in the event of death, resignation or incapacity of the nominated candidate or of the violation of the electoral code of conduct by the nominated candidate, the political party may substitute its candidate before the date of presentation of nomination papers to the Commission," reads the Elections Act.
Kimemia becomes the second gubernatorial aspirant to change his running mate. Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo picked David Ohito as his deputy governor designate Charles Owino resigned to rejoin the National Police Service (NPS).
Owino, a former Spokesperson of the NPS, is expected to assume the position of the Director of the Kenya National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons after an appointment by Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai.
