Ruto Unveils Candidate to Faceoff with Muthama’s Former Wife in Machakos Senatorial By-Election

Deputy President William Ruto on Thursday unveiled his candidate for the Machakos Senatorial seat.

Ruto endorsed Urbanus Mutunga Muthama Ngengele during a meeting with a section of Machakos leaders led by former Senator Johnstone Muthama at his residence in Karen, Nairobi.

“Grateful to witness the partnership forged by the Machakos Senate by-election hopefuls in favor of Urbanus Mutunga Muthama Ngengele, a hustler from the county,” Ruto stated.

"Our gratitude to them for their audacity and leadership to cede their aspirations and back Ngengele for the race.”

Ngengele will be the flagbearer of the newly registered United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, which is linked with Ruto. 

He will lock horns with former Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama’s estranged wife Agnes Kavindu, who is the Wiper Party candidate in the by-election slated for March 18th.

Interestingly, Muthama is the chairperson of UDA party and Ruto’s pointsman in the Ukambani region. This means Muthama will be forced to campaign for Ngengele against his former wife.

Kavindu, who unsuccessfully vied for the Machakos Woman Representative seat in 2017 on a Jubilee ticket, was this week awarded a certificate of nomination by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

“We have confidence that Agnes is going to be the next senator for Machakos County. As wiper party, we have no business in breaking families by nominating Agnes Kavindu Muthama for Machakos seat, we nominated her because of her qualifications but fortunately she shares a name with others,” Kalonzo said.

The seat fell vacant following the death of former Senator Boniface Mutinda Kabaka who died at the Nairobi Hospital last month.

Ruto recently threw his support behind Bishop Margret Wanjiru, who is vying for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat on a UDA ticket.