After win, Waititu vows to unseat Kabogo in 2017

Ferdinand Waititu celebrates with Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwa (left ) at Wangige Primary School shortly after he was declared Kabete MP-elect yesterday morning. [PHOTO: MOSES OMUSULA/STANDARD]

Kiambu, Kenya: Fresh from winning the Kabete by-election, MP-elect Ferdinand Waititu has his eyes now trained on Kiambu governor's seat now occupied by William Kabogo.

Immediately after he was declared the winner by the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) Returning Officer Esther Wanjiku at 1.15am on Tuesday, Mr Waititu announced his intention to send Mr Kabogo home.

“My journey of becoming the Kiambu governor has kicked off officially today,” said Waititu amid cheers from his supporters at Wangige Primary school, the constituency tallying centre.

NO THREAT

Shortly after, Kabogo congratulated the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP), for getting its first MP saying that this is a move in the right direction for the party which he termed as the party of the future and the vehicle for Uhuru-Ruto in 2017.

But Kabogo advised Waititu to focus on delivering the promises he made to the voters of Kabete when he was campaigning and not merely engage in politicking.

He said Waititu was not a threat to him and he is prepared for a face-off come 2017.

FOUR ELECTIONS

"I have won four elections and this speaks for itself. I am not afraid of him or any other person who will be joining the race in 2017. But at the moment, I am only concentrating on fulfilling the promises I made to the people of this county by spearheading development at the grassroots level," said Kabogo

Waititu vied for the Nairobi governor seat on The National Alliance (TNA) ticket in 2013 General Elections but lost to Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)'s Evans Kidero.

He joined the Kabete race that after the slaying of former MP George Muchai in February.

In the Monday by-election, Waititu won with a margin of 23,000 votes ahead of the nearest in the horde of fringe candidates. This seems to have re-energised him to believe he poses a threat to Kabogo's political future.

It is also telling that his political come-back was witnessed by brigades of President Uhuru Kenyatta's JAP that included the National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, MPs Jamleck Kamau (Kigumo), Alice Ng'ang'a (Thika), Kimani Ichungwa (Kikuyu), Jude Njomo (Kiambu town), Kiragu Chege (Limuru), Denis Waweru (Dagoreti South), Peter Weru (Mathira), Nelson Gaichuhie (Subukia) and Kiambu Woman representative Ann Nyokabi.

Waititu won with 24,444 votes which is equivalent to 95 per cent against his closes rival Newton Njenga of National Vision Party's 241 and John Wamagata's 176 votes.

The MP-elect told his supporters his exemplary work in Kabete for the next two years will speak for itself  and ultimately give him the much needed boost to clinch the Kiambu governor's position come 2017.