Of the eight Kiambaa parliamentary by-election aspirants cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), only four of them are still in the race as the poll enters the homestretch.

Those who have thrown in the towel include Willie Mbugua who joined the UDA bandwagon, Dr Lucy Wanjiru who decamped to Jubilee, David Mugo and Evans Wainaina.

Those still in the race which has narrowed down to a two-horse event are Richards Njoroge of The New Democrats (TND), Isaac Karomo (Federal Party of Kenya) and the two main aspirants Kariri Njama and Njuguna Wanjiku of Jubilee and UDA political parties, respectively.

The aspirants, particularly Njama and Wanjiku intensified their campaign with each one of them traversing the expansive sub county selling their manifestos.

Women Lobby Group

Njama’s campaign trails were boosted by the Women for Jubilee Lobby Group led by former Nairobi County Assembly speaker Beatrice Elachi, Murang’a woman representative Sabina Chege, Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu and Kiambu Deputy Governor Joyce Ngugi who collectively challenged Deputy President William Ruto to quit from the Jubilee instead of demonising it from within.

They said that it’s ironic for the DP and his allies to drum up for the UDA party candidate and yet they are members of the ruling party, Jubilee.

Speaking during a town hall meeting at Karuri and later during roadshows in Ruaka, Muchatha and Banana Hill township, they urged locals to remain steadfast the ruling party and turn out in large numbers during the voting day and cast their votes for Njama.

“We are here to boost Njama’s campaign and to advise you to avoid being hoodwinked to join the opposition.

I challenge DP Ruto to lead by example and quit from Jubilee instead of telling people to leave the party and join UDA”, said Elachi.

Sabina said that UDA has no interests of Kiambaa voters at heart but is only marketing itself and using unsuspecting voters as guinea pigs to test it’s popularity in Mt Kenya.

Nyoro who joined the women at Karuri cautioned voters against falling for the apparently high UDA euphoria in central region noting that they might live to regret their actions in future.

“You are being  given empty promises but the government is and has actualised it’s promises particularly in rehabilitation roads and provision of clean piped water”, he said.