Leaders throw their weight behind Kombe

Story by NATION Correspondents
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Four Mijikenda MPs and elders have vowed to campaign for the re-election of former Magarini MP Harrison Kombe during the May 14 by-election.
Led by the community’s chairman, Mr Ali Said Chizondo, the leaders said Mr Kombe’s election had not been nullified due to “any slip-up on his part.”

The leaders were Transport minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere, assistant ministers Joseph Kingi and Anania Mwaboza as well as Kinango MP Gonzi Rai. The four vowed to convince the Magarini electorate to give him the opportunity to complete projects he had initiated.
“There are only five months or so before Parliament is dissolved. By electing a new person as MP, Magarini residents will be putting an amateur who will finish his term without implementing any project,” said Mr Mwakwere in his capacity as Mijikenda spokesman during a press conference in Mombasa yesterday.

Major surprise
They said they will visit Magarini tomorrow to drum up support for Mr Kombe.
Their stand is in direct conflict with that of assistant minister Danson Mungatana who has been campaigning for Mr Franco Esposito, a Kenyan of Italian origin, to stand on a Narc-Kenya ticket.

Mr Mwakwere warned Mr Mungatana to prepare for a major surprise.
ODM presidential hopeful Najib Balala and Malindi MP Lucas Maitha will lead the party’s campaign in Magarini.

Conduct nomination
Mr Maitha said the party would conduct its nomination on April 20. Five ODM aspirants for the seat will be interviewed by a team to be chaired by secretary-general Anyang Nyong’o in Malindi tomorrow.

On the other hand, Narc-Kenya has cleared two candidates for their nomination set for April 21.
“The by-election will be a litmus test for parties ahead of the December General Election. Its results will greatly tell Kenyans what will happen in December,” said Mr Balala in Malindi yesterday. He said the party had a point to make in Magarini.
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Daily Nation
16 April 2007