Former powerful cabinet minister in Jomo Kenyatta’s regime Mbiyu Koinange’s daughter has been selected by the Koinange family to run for the Kiambaa MP seat. Lenah is expected to run on a Jubilee Party ticket after the seat fell vacant MP Paul Koinange passed away last month at the Nairobi Hospital.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Leonard Karuga, the family’s spokesperson said they had settled on Leah, from a pool of over ten family members who had declared their intention to run for the same seat. Leah, a last born in her family is said to have the upper hand in clinching the seat after elders joined her family in backing her.
”It was a tough decision but we all agreed to support Lenah who is Koinange’s last born,” Karuga told the press on Tuesday.
There are reports the Kaimbaa seat may go the Garissa way, by having a negotiated democracy approach, and the constituents may not go to the polls. This is partly informed by no other competitors coming out to fight for the seat, and also, it is just a year the general elections.
“If we could find a way of negotiating democracy in Kiambaa as it was done in Garissa, then it would be wonderful and a sign of appreciation of the legacy of the Koinange family,” Homabay Senator Moses Kajwang said during the burial of MP Paul Koinange.
