President Uhuru Kenyatta has asked Devolution Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri not to resign from the Jubilee administration to vie for the Laikipia gubernatorial seat.
The Head of State instead asked Kiunjuri to remain in government and play the role of ‘political defence’.
Speaking in Nanyuki town on Saturday evening during a Voter Registration Drive exercise, Kenyatta urged the locals to let Kiunjuri remain in his Cabinet.
“Allow me to have Mr Kiunjuri in government for the next five years. He is among my strong political protectors while crisscrossing the country. I will release him in 2022,” said President Kenyatta.
Mr Kiunjuri was to battle for the Laikipia top seat with incumbent Joshua Irungu, deputy governor Gitonga Kabugi, former Industrialisation assistant Minister Nderitu Muriithi and former Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Mwangi Thuita among others.
Other Cabinet Secretaries who could be leaving government is Eugene Wamalwa (Water and Irrigation) and Hassan Wario (Sports).
Wamalwa is said to be eyeing the Trans Nzoia Governor's seat while CS Wario is set to quit after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) approved criminal charges against him.
Wario is set to be prosecuted for criminal culpability in the infamous Rio Olympics Scandal.
