Meru MP ditches Jubilee, to vie as independent

North Imenti MP Rahim Dawood. [Phares Mutembei, Nairobian]

Imenti North MP Rahim Dawood (pictured) has ditched Jubilee Party and will seek re-election as an independent candidate.

Dawood who will be seeking a third consecutive term said he was acting after consultations with the electorate. At the same time, Dawood said his agents in the four wards that make up the constituency which also hosts Meru town had played a role in his decision to move out of the ruling party.

Dawood revealed he will not be rooting for any of the leading presidential or gubernatorial candidates. Speaking when he met supporters Dawood said he had wished to remain in Jubilee but the supporters and agents told him to be an independent candidate.

“I had wished to go into Jubilee but my people have said no. I tried telling them about Devolution Empowerment Party, United Democratic Alliance and even Jubilee but the voters and all my agents in the wards have said I run as an independent,” Dawood said.

He said he will be campaigning for himself and will not do so for any presidential, governor, senator, woman rep and MCA candidate.

“I will be looking for my own votes. Each candidate will carry their own cross,” he said.

Dawood, elected first on an Alliance Party of Kenya on a Jubilee ticket in 2017. He will be facing Nominated MP Halima Mucheke of Deputy President William Ruto’s UDA, Carol Karimi who is vying on Devolution Empowerment Party and Beatrice Karwitha of Jubilee Party.