Kiambu Governor’s Race: Thika MP Wa Jungle Ditches UDA Party After Nomination Defeat

Thika Town MP Wainaina wa Jungle has announced he will vie for the     Kiambu gubernatorial seat as an independent candidate.

This comes after he failed to secure the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket in the nominations held on Thursday.

Jungle suffered a defeat at the hands of Senator Kimani Wamatangi, who bagged the UDA ticket after garnering 86,020 votes.

Jungle came a distant second with 57,568 votes ahead of former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu (15,117 votes), and Mungai Erick Muturi (3,666).

The Thika MP disputed the results of the hotly-contested primaries, claiming the party leadership had already predetermined the winner and that there was voter bribery.

“There was voter bribery which was very widespread; election officials elected were instructed by the party to favor one side,” Jungle stated.

He also accused the party hierarchy of deliberately omitting his name “Jungle” from the ballot papers in a well-orchestrated scheme to rig him out.

“My name ‘Jungle’ is official and recognized on my ID. When I went to register myself at the party, my name was included as Patrick Wainaina Jungle. Now in the ballot papers, they only included only two names, Jungle was not included,” he said.

"The photo they used did not clearly depict my facial structures. I believe that was a well-planned scheme to make voters not to recognize me.”

Other candidates in the Kiambu governor’s race include incumbent James Nyoro Gatundu of Jubilee, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria (Chama Cha Kazi), and former Governor William Kabogo (Tujibebe Wakenya Party).