Mixed reactions greeted the entry of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo into the race for the Kakamega county governor contest.

Lugari MP Ayub Savula welcomed the move but was quick to declare that he was not scared of his predecessor.

He said it was Jirongo’s democratic right to vie for any political seat but that the decision was not a threat to his grip over Lugari.

“I welcome my elder brother CJ back into this boiler room that is politics. However, I am not scared of him because my people have trust in me and will vote for us come August 9,” Savula said.

His Khwisero counterpart Christopher Aseka echoed Savula’s sentiments, saying the move would not distract Azimio-One Kenya from clinching the governorship, MP and other political seats in the forthcoming polls.

“We can have as many contestants as we can but our people have already decided on how to vote. Fernandes Barasa and Savula are our gubernatorial candidates but we can not lock other people out,” he added.

Those allied to Kenya Kwanza, led by governor candidate Cleophas Malalah said the development would complicate matters for Azimio.

“Azimio now have two groups seeking to become governor while we only have one. That raises advantages to our side,” Malalah said when he took his campaigns to Ileho in Shinyalu constituency.