The outgoing Machakos governor Alfred Mutua endorsed Azimio candidate Wavinya Ndeti as his preferred successor during a rally on Saturday, 30 July attended by Kenya Kwanza flag-beaerer William Ruto.
Dr Mutua stated that Wavinya Ndeti was fit for the job having served as as a Cabinet Assistant Secretary - CAS in the ministry of transport.
The Maendeleo Chap Chap party leader rooted for Wavinya's candidature saying that he will vote for William Ruto as President and Wavinya Ndeti as Governor.
“My vote, I will vote for William Ruto as President, Rita Ndunge for woman representatives, and Wavinya Ndeti as governor because she is capable of bringing development to Machakos County.”
It's a major boost for Wavinya, coming barely days after Francis Maliti withdrew his bid in her favour.
Mutua's move ignited his political rivalry with former senator Johnson Muthama, who is also eyeing the Machakos gubernatorial seat on a UDA ticket, a party which he serves as its chairman.
Muthama is on the record saying he cannot share a podium with the Machakos governor until he apologies to the people of Machakos for poor leadership.
Machakos County has eight (8) constituencies that include Masinga, Yatta, Kangundo, Matungulu, Kathiani, Mavoko, and Machakos Town, and forty (40) electoral wards.
According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission - IEBC, Machakos county has over 687,565 registered voters.
Apart from Wavinya and Muthama, the gubernatorial contest also has Chama Cha Uzalendo Party leader Nzioka Waita and Empowerment and Liberation Party (ELP) party leader Rose Mulwa.
The former CAS' main headache is Waita, who previously served as State House Chief of Staff, with their supremacy battles also revealing sibling rivalry within the Azimio camp.
Recent opinion polls by Infotrak have shown that Wavinya Ndeti is leading in the gubernatorial race with a popularity rating of 46 per cent with Nzioka Waita enjoying 25 per cent while UDA's Johnson Muthama comes third with 9 percent and other candidates below 2 percent.
The Machakos governor race is now shaping into a political duel between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio One Kenya as the election date draws closer.
