Meru Governor-Elect Kawira Mwangaza Joins Ruto's Kenya Kwanza Alliance

Meru governor-elect Kawira Mwangaza has become the latest leader to join the Kenya Kwanza Alliance which is headed by president-elect William Ruto.

Mwangaza, who is the outgoing Meru Woman Representative, was declared the winner of the gubernatorial race after defeating incumbent Kiraitu Murungi (Devolution Empowerment Party) and Senator Mithika Linturi (UDA).

Contesting on an independent ticket, Mwangaza garnered 209,148 votes ahead of her closest competitor Senator Linturi who came in second with 183,859 votes. Kiraitu emerged third in the Meru governorship race with 110,814 votes.

Mwangaza, who is also a bishop at Baite Family Fellowship Church in Meru County, becomes the first woman Governor of Meru County since the onset of devolution in 2013.

Kawira met president-elect Ruto on Friday where they agreed together. While welcoming her at his Karen residence on Friday, Ruto lauded Mwangaza for choosing to work with Kenya Kwanza.

“Thank you Meru County Governor-elect Kawira Mwangaza for choosing to work with Kenya Kwanza to drive Meru and Kenya forward, Karen, Nairobi County,” Ruto wrote on Twitter.

This comes a day after the United Democratic Movement (UDM) party leadership led by Mandera Senator-Elect Ali Roba and Marsabit Governor-Elect Mohamud Ali abandoned Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition and joined Kenya Kwanza on Thursday.

On Wednesday, 10 of the 12 independent MPs declared allegiance to Kenya Kwanza at a meeting chaired by Ruto at the deputy president official residence in Karen.