Dr. Moses Mwangi, who is gunning for the Muranga governor’s seat, has appealed to voters to reject calls to elect leaders based on party affiliations.

Terming himself as a believer of the late multi-party democracy hero Kenneth Matiba’s clarion call “let the people decide”, Mwangi said the trend of electing leaders in a “suit manner” has been overtaken with time.

“Murang’a is a battleground for two coalitions and we are telling our people to elect their preferred presidential candidate, but not to heed calls to vote for other leaders from particular parties,” he said.

Dr. Mwangi who is running on a Safina Party ticket is battling for the seat with Senator Irungu Kang’ata (UDA), former Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau (Jubilee), former Principle Secretary Joseph Wairagu (Democratic Party), Irungu Nyakera (Independent) and the county’s immediate former CEC member for health Dr Joseph Mbai (Usawa Party).

The Azimio alliance got a boost recently when outgoing Governor Mwangi Wairia declared his support for its presidential flag bearer Raila Odinga and organized his first campaign rally for him at Mumbi grounds on Saturday.

Wa Iria who unsuccessfully made a jab for the presidency, recently declared that he is now the Son of the Azimio coalition after ‘Baba and Martha.’

Speaking at the start of his campaign tour of Kigumo constituency, the gubernatorial hopeful who was accompanied by his running mate Kariuki Njiiri and the party’s aspiring woman rep Leah Muchai, welcomed Wairia’s move saying it is his right to support whoever he chooses.

However, he cautioned political coalitions against sheep-herding voters to vote in a certain way and instead allow them to pick leaders of their choice, declaring that he doesn’t belong to any political divide.

“It is now time to have a county assembly that resembles the rainbow. We should have MCAs elected from various parties as well as Governor, Senators MPs, and other leaders,” Mwangi said.

The candidate who is contesting the seat for the third time since 2013 pledged to start a cancer center in the county if elected and uplift healthcare services through linkages with international organizations via telemedicine platforms.