Governor Kivutha Kibwana to Vie for Makueni Senatorial Seat

Makueni Governor Prof. Kivutha Kibwana has announced he will contest for the county’s senatorial seat in the August 9th elections.

Kibwana’s second and final term as Makueni governor expires in August and is constitutionally barred from defending the seat as the 2010 Constitution prescribes at a two-term limit.

The governor announced his bid for the Makueni senator’s seat during public participation and presentation of the County's Budget for the year 2022/202 at ATC Kwa Kathoka on Friday. He said he will contest for the seat under the Azimio La Umoja alliance, which is led by ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Kibwana, 67, says his decision to run for the senatorial seat is due to public demand as well as his desire to promote and safeguard devolution. He pledged to push for the increase of budgetary allocation to counties to 35 percent if elected.

"I strongly believe in the power of devolution, if elected senator I aim to safeguard and protect devolution not only in Makueni but the whole country," said Kibwana.

“I shall be able to support the governor by tapping our wide donor networks and ties with the national government to develop the county.”

Kibwana, regarded as the best-performing governor in the country, had earlier declared his bid for the presidency but shelved his ambition to support Odinga, who is giving his fifth stab at the country’s top seat.

He previously served as the MP for Makueni, a Cabinet Minister during President Mwai Kibaki’s administration, and Presidential Advisor for Constitutional, Parliamentary, and Youth Affairs in the President's Office. Kibwana was also a senior lecturer and dean of the faculty of law at the University of Nairobi.