Kisii County Deputy Governor Joash Maangi has asked all leaders interested in running on Jubilee Party to campaign peacefuly adding that the party will not issue direct nominations.
Speaking in his office, Maangi who has also declared interest on the gubernatorial seat, said that Jubilee Party believes in democracy and that all leaders will be treated equally.
“I want to ensure all aspirants to join the party.It is the people who will choose who their preferred candidates. Nobody will impose leaders to the people,” said Maangi.
His declaration seems to disorganize an initial plan by Kisii leaders who had already endorsed some leaders for certain posts in the county.
A unity caucus affiliated to the Jubilee party in the county had already endorsed Charles Nyachae for the senatorial position and Chris Obure for the gubernatorial seat.
“Nobody has been endorsed am not aware of such a plan, all I know is that we want everyone on board,” said Mr Maangi.
Sunday's announcement by the deputy governor that he will be battling it out with Obure during the preliminaries to seek the Jubilee governorship candidate caught the unity team by a surprise and would force them to go back to the drawing board.
“All we want is a level playing ground for every candidate nobody is more Jubilee than the other,” he said.
It is not clear where former Education minister Sam Ongeri and former south Mugirango MP Omingo Magara are headed to after showing signs of displeasure with how Jubilee affairs were being handled in the county.
Mr Ongeri has already made a controversial announcement that he will be backing Kisii Governor James Ongwae for a second term but will still support President Uhuru Kenyatta for presidency.