Azimio la Umoja Presidential running mate Martha Karua has called on Kirinyaga voters to ignore Narc Kenya gubernatorial candidate’s name on the ballot paper while voting on Tuesday.

This is after Muriithi Kagai who was Narc Kenya’s flag bearer in the Kirinyaga county gubernatorial seat backed down in favour of Senator Charles Kibiru.

Both Kibiru and Muriithi Kagai have been in the race to ascend to the county’s top office via Narc Kenya and the ruling Jubilee party respectively, both under the Raila Odinga-led Azimio la Umoja coalition.

Karua noted that a move to have both candidates vie under the coalition would divide votes, therefore end up benefiting their opponents.

Karua said IEBC had already printed Kagai’s name on ballot papers.

“Even if Kagai’s name will be on the ballot, please skip it, let everyone vote for Charles Kibiru. He is our flag bearer,” she said.

“Have you been pleased by the distribution of Bursary funds? Are you satisfied with county health services? The solution to those challenges is to vote in Kibiru as our governor,” she added.

She pointed out that she would be in a better position to closely monitor and work with Senator Kibiru if residents elect him as the Governor and Kenyans entrust the nation to the leadership of Raila Odinga and Karua.

“If you elect Kibiru, it will mean that if a challenge emerges and you call me and alert me about it I will be able to call him and ask what’s happening,” she noted.

With Muriithi Kagai stepping down in favour of Senator Kibiru, the number of candidates seeking the Kirinyaga county gubernatorial seat drops to seven candidates.

The seven are now going bare knuckle against each other in a race to secure the majority of votes out of the 376,137 registered voters.

Other candidates include the incumbent Governor Ann Waiguru and Woman Representative Wangui Ngirici who is on the ballot as an independent candidate.

Also in the race are former Governor Joseph Ndathi, former Mwea MP Peter Gitau, and Comba Ndau of KADU Asili.