Caption: Kitui Senator David Musila addressing a rally at Kanziko shopping centre in Kitui South. [Photo/Lawrence Kioko/hivisasa.com)
Kitui Senator David Musila yesterday warned Governor Julius Malombe of a resounding defeat both in the Wiper Party primaries and the August 8 General Election.
Addressing a rally at Kanziko shopping centre, Kitui South, Mr Musila, a seasons politician, said Dr Malombe was not his match and exuded confidence that he will get a landslide win in the contest for the county's top job.
“I have interacted with locals in every corner of Kitui and they have assured me of their unequivocal support in the gubernatorial race owing to their desire to send Malombe home because he has terribly disappointed them,” he noted.
He said it was unfortunate that the residents were still faced with water problems, food shortage, poor healthcare and bad roads yet the county had over the last four years received more than Sh30 billion from the national government.
“There is nothing much to show for all that money because the system is riddled with corruption, poor planning and little concern for the welfare of its people but I am ready to give the people of Kitui the leadership they yearn for,” said Musila.
He said he initially had no plans to run for the seat but the residents approached him and insisted that "he must unseat incumbent because he has fallen short of their expectations.”
“I had no option but to honour the will of my people. I am ready for the battle because I know I have all the support I ascend to the helm of Kitui County and install a government that is keen on improving your lives both socially and economically,” he told the gathering amid cheers of approval.
Besides, the Wiper national chairman advised Malombe to respect the decision of the electorate in Kitui and accept the outcome of the impending nominations and elections without alleging possibility of rigging as he has been insinuating.
“I know he has been uncomfortable with my position in the party’s leadership, ever claiming that I plan to influence and manipulate the exercise to earn myself the ticket and have him locked out of the contest but his constant bickering only betrays his fear of facing me on the ballot.
“His allegations are baseless because the primaries will be independently conducted by the party's elections board but not by Musila. Even the party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has time and again assured him and all other aspirants that the exercise will be free, fair and credible,” added Musila.
A fortnight ago, the party’s National Executive Committee ruled out the use of Wiper membership cards and endorsed the use of national ID cards (universal suffrage) in the primaries to resolve the nomination disagreements.
Musila said the earlier proposal to use party membership cards as a modality of nominations had stirred serious controversy and mistrust amongst aspirants as some felt their opponents could be bribing people into membership.
The decision dealt Malombe a serious blow as he had already dished out his share of cards and registered 10,000 Wiper members in an attempt to outdo his rival Musila and clinch the ticket.
The governor was reportedly using public servants and funds to conduct the member registration drive but he has since dismissed such as mere allegations.
The two have fallen out since the senator declared his bid for the governor's seat sometime in 2015.
Whoever emerges victorious in the nominations, which will be conducted next month, will battle it out with former Land Minister Charity Ngilu who is eyeing the coveted seat but on her Narc Party’s ticket.