Amani National congress has this morning formally picked Peter Oscar Nabulindo to fly its flag during the Matungu by-election.
Mr. Nabulindo vied on Ford Kenya during the last general election garnering 10000 votes against the eventual winner the late Justus Murunga who garnered 18000 votes.
Speaking during the official unveiling of the party’s candidate at Amani house, Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala expressed confidence that the party will carry the day owing to Nabulindo’s popularity on the ground and his mobilization skills.
‘’ We have done our study well and settled on Mr. Nabulindo. We have no doubt that our candidate will carry the day and enable us to retain the seat left vacant by Hon Murunga’’ Malala said.
On his party, Lugari member of parliament Ayub Savula has said that the party will not spare anything to ensure that the candidate wins.
‘’ As a party, we are prepared to ensure that our candidate is well oiled for the battle ahead. We shall take no chances and issues of finances will be sorted’’ Savula said.
In what is seen as a looming battle for the vote-rich western block, both ODM and Ruto’s wing of Jubilee is expected to field candidates.
Nabulindo’s endorsement has left at least 9 other would-be candidates grumbling. At least nine candidates were preparing for ANC party primaries only for Nabulindo to be handed the ticket.
They include Asomba Nesembe, late Murunga’s wife Christabel Amunga and son Eugene Ambwere, as well as Matungu CDF chairman Athman Wangara.
Others were Auma Faida, former mayor Anzelimo Kongoti, and Mombasa-based lawyer Charles Kasamani.
Nesembe, who finished second in ANC nominations ahead of the 2017 elections, termed Nabulindo’s endorsement unfair and undemocratic. He said ANC members will not allow non-members to run away with the party’s ticket.
“We worked with Murunga to ensure he won the seat and as a bonafide member of ANC, I ought to have been given an opportunity,” said Nasembe.
Kasamani said ANC’s leadership should have given preference to loyalists as opposed to new entrants.
“I personally feel I am a front runner in this election and the ANC should come to the ground and give a deserving member the ticket as opposed to handing it to a newbie over the party’s life members,” said Kasamani
On his part, Nabulindo was elated and thanked the party for the trust they had in him and promised to work extremely hard and deliver the seat.
