Governor Mwangi Wa Iria now endorses Raila for president
Governor Mwangi Wa Iria now endorses Raila for president
Wa Iria, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, said the decision was made after his bid to succeed President Kenyatta was scuttled.
While referring to himself as the de facto leader of Murang’a, Wa Iria urged Murang’a voters to give Raila 620,000 votes and to press Raila to give him (Wa Iria) a cabinet position.
Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria has announced that his party, Usawa Kwa Wote, will support Raila Odinga’s candidacy.
Wa Iria, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, said the decision was made after his bid to succeed President Kenyatta was scuttled.
While referring to himself as the de facto leader of Murang’a, Wa Iria urged Murang’a voters to give Raila 620,000 votes and to press Raila to give him (Wa Iria) a cabinet position.
“I am the supremo of Muranga county, some are coming there like kings. They have not even proposed a seat for Muranga county. I am finding myself sitting in the cabinet. I am telling the people of Muranga to rally behind me. Let’s give the 620k votes to Raila, We will demand that Raila gives me a cabinet position,”
According to Wairia, he engaged Raila Odinga because he was the only contender who admitted that an injustice had been meted out on him by the IEBC.
“When others were celebrating Raila engaged me for 3 hours, we talked man to man. He is the only one who admitted that injustice was metted on me,” Wairia said on Tuesday.
He claimed Raila also discouraged him from turning his political party, Usawa Kwa Wote, into a resistance movement, instead inviting him into the Azimio fold where their manifestos could be combined.
“He asked for my manifesto and said if he accommodates it will I change my mind. I told him my champion program was dairy farming, we are the only county where milk is 40shillings. I believe that a cow is a peasants kiosk, I told him of my program one home one cow, I believe that is the easiest way to eradicate poverty,” he added
The Murang’a Governor admitted that Raila’s 6k-a-month stipend to needy families also piqued his interest, and he volunteered to supplement it with his 4k-a-month stipend, bringing the total stipend to 10k-a-month.
“I told him if we can combine your 6k and my 4K then we will have 10k which will go a long way, he said if we agree then we combine your one home one cow plan,” Wairia told the media.
According to Wa Iria, his deliberations with Raila will now see farmers get seeds for free.
Each home will also get a cow, and small scale traders will be able to access interest free loans.
“On small traders I also raised a matter, empowerment act for small traders to enable them access loans premised on Wachuuzi Sacco. Traders are accessing loans with zero interest,” Wa Iria said
“We have given one tranch and are giving a second one next week. This initiative should be supported by government, spread to central Kenya and beyond, and this too he agreed,”
During the media briefing, Wa Iria also targeted IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati, accusing him of bribery.
“Chebukati personally ensured I am not in the ballot. He was working with known people because some people believe Mount Kenya is their bedroom,” Wa Iria said.
“This was a case of high level bribery, and I want him to look me in the eye he took bribe to take me out of contests and if he didn’t take a bribe then he should tell Kenyans how I didn’t qualify,”
The outspoken politician insisted that he had fulfilled all of the requirements for presidential candidacy, particularly his 10-year stint as Murang’a Governor.
“We have been walking this broader political journey. I have served two terms as governor, I took the decision to graduate to another level , I formed Usawa kwa Wote party. I also took the decision that I wanted to contest the presidency. I have spent resources in the journey to be president, unfortunately some people wakaweka jam,” he added.
“Being a governor for 10 years, I say this with a heavy heart that someone said I do not qualify to contest the presidency. I met the qualifications, that was an insult to Kenyans and to my community,”
Tonny Ndungu By Tonny Ndungu For Citizen Digital
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