Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga on Sunday, July, 24 secured a deal between Jubilee and Kanu candidates vying for a senatorial position in Laikipia County.
During a rally in Nyahurur town, Raila announced that Laikipia Deputy Governor John Mwaniki would drop his Senate ambitions in favour of former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga of Kanu.
The Azimio flagbearer and his running mate Martha Karua were on a charm offensive of the vote-rich Mt Kenya region - making stopovers in Tharaka Nithi, Embu and Laikipia Counties respectively.
“I want soldiers in the county assembly, Senate, and National Assembly to help me run the government, that's why I want John Mwaniki and Maina Njenga to work together. After talking to Mwaniki I want him to leave the senatorial position for Maina Njenga so I can go with him to the national government," Raila stated
The Laikipia County senatorial position was expected to be a hotly contested seat after many candidates from Kenya Kwanza and Azimio One Kenya coalition expressed interest in the seat.
Both coalitions have advocated for negotiated democracy to have their respective political sides produce single candidates to avoid sibling rivalry and splitting of votes.
Raila also called out his opponent, Deputy President William Ruto, for being at the center of land grabbing in the country. He accused the DP of complaining each time when he was implicated in corruption and land grabbing.
“We want to finish corruption once we form the government, our opponent is always crying yet he is the one at the center stage of corruption and complaining that corruption is weaponised," the former Prime Minister remarked.
The Azimio boss continued to traverse the Mt Kenya region with the hope of getting a lion’s share of the vote-rich region. He is hoping that the support of the President who hails from the same region will help him ascend to the office on the hill.
Elsewhere, the Azimio flagbearer faced a backlash from the Kenya Kwanza politicians who have bashed him for opting to withdraw from the presidential debate which was scheduled to happen on Tuesday, July 26.
