Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu will not defend her seat on August 9 General Election.
Ngilu’s decision to withdraw from the gubernatorial race was announced by Azimio la Umoja Presidential Candidate Raila Amollo Odinga during a tour in Kitui County on Wednesday, June 15.
The ODM leader Raila Odinga stated that the county chief will be offered a position in his administration.
During the campaign tour, Raila asked Kitui residents to choose between Jubilee’s David Musila and Wiper’s Julius Malombe.
“You will decide between former Governor Julius Malombe and former Senator David Musila who will be your governor. I want to take mama to Nairobi,” Mr Odinga said Wednesday while campaigning at Mutha Township in Kitui County.
Raila noted that Ngilu would instead focus her efforts on his national presidential campaign, promising her an appointment position if they form the next government.
The move is expected to throw wide open the Kitui governorship race, which has already heated up.
Mrs. Ngilu was up against Dr. Malombe, Mr. Musila, and former Nairobi deputy governor Jonathan Mueke, who is running for Kitui governor on the United Democratic Alliance ticket.
Ngilu is the second high-ranking politician to announce his retirement from electoral politics, following Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki’s announcement after losing the race to deputize UDA presidential candidate William Ruto.
