Former State House Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita on Saturday, April 23, took a swipe at his competitor Wavinya Ndeti as the race for the Machakos gubernatorial seat hots up.
Speaking in Kathiani, where Wavinya was born and raised, Waita slammed the former Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) for attempting to block him from campaigning in her home turf.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's ex-aide brushed off the alleged warnings noting that he will not be intimidated by anyone, let alone an expired leader.
"I was told not to set foot in Kathiani, that it has its owners. I want them to have a look, and to take a good look, I am here today. She contested in 2013 and failed, came back in 2017 and flopped, now she is back again in 2022. Surely, even medicine expires after 10 years and so has she," he stated.
Nzioka, who is eyeing to succeed incumbent, Alfred Mutua on a Chama Cha Uzalendo ticket, took a swipe at Ndeti, describing her as a 'catwalk leader' who was oblivious of the struggles of Machakos County residents.
He drew parallels between her and the incumbent, whom he accused of living large at the expense of the county. He warned the electorate against voting in Wavinya, suggesting that they will most likely face the same fate under her leadership.
"And if the role of a governor is to be followed around everywhere he goes with his personal toilet and red carpet to the point of forgetting about the welfare of the people, then the Member of County Assembly will bear the brunt,
"Now you want to vote in another whose only work is catwalk and cutex? How do you expect her to build schools if she refused to go to school? Impossible!" Uhuru's ex-Chief of Staff reiterated.
The gubernatorial aspirant urged the residents to rally behind leaders who have a proven track record. He noted that while he served as Uhuru's right-hand man for seven years before his resignation, the Head of State counted on him to deliver.
Wavinya Ndeti is a trained computer scientist and business administrator. An alumnus of the Kenya High School, she holds a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Computer Science from South Bank University, United Kingdom. She also has a Master's Degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Heirowatt University.
Wavinya will be running for Machakos governor in the August 9 general election under a Wiper Democratic Movement ticket.
Former Senator Jonstone Muthama is also in the race, on a United Democratic Alliance - UDA party ticket. Mutua is serving his second and final term, after being elected as Machakos' pioneer governor in 2013.
