By Betty Luke
A group of Ameru community residents have asked Isiolo North MP aspirant Lucy Mworia to shelve her ambitions in favour of her opponent and “brother” Mwenda Thuranira.
Chances for either of them to clinch the seat that has attracted 12 aspirants are minimal if they all proceed to the ballot and therefore need for either to support the other.
They said for having unsuccessfully vied twice (2013 and 2017), the Devolution Empowerment Party aspirant should support Mr Thuranira for the seat.
Led by Mark Lithira and Geoffrey Mariti, they proposed that the Party for National Unity (PNU) candidate lobbies for a top State job for Ms Mworia should he become the next Isiolo North MP.
Mr Mariti said fielding one Ameru candidate for the seat will increase their chances of winning.
“We should try a new person this time round. There is need for us to unite and speak in one voice,” he said during a youth meeting at Isiolo town Catholic Church hall.
Mr Lithira acknowledged the fight by the duo to safeguard the community’s interests.
“We appreciate that she has been vying to fight for our rights but appeal to her to drop her bid in favour of Mr Thuranira,” he said.
The Ameru community is the third vote-rich community in Isiolo with slightly above 10, 000 votes.
Other candidates jostling for the seat currently occupied by Hassan Odha are banking on the two leaders differences to harvest some votes from the community.
So far, MP Odha and former MP Joseph Samal vying on independent and Jubilee tickets respectively remain the frontrunners in the race.
Mr Thuranira’s bid last week got a shot in the arm after a section of elders from the community endorsed him for the seat.
The dozens of elders said he had proven through his charity work that he would transform the constituency if elected to office.
The businessman-cum-politician has been supporting persons living with disabilities with mobility carts and education for needy learners.
He recently disbursed Sh12 million to support secondary education for 150 bright but needy learners in Isiolo.
“He has endeared himself to many as development oriented leader and I believe he could bring some changes in Isiolo North if elected MP in August elections,” Simon Mutembei, a resident said.
But Millicent Mugendi feels having emerged third in 2017 elections trailing behind Mr Samal who came second, Ms Mworia should be given another chance after which the community should not support her again.
“I feel we should support her for the last time and strike an agreement that in event she defies the arrangement, she will be on her own and the community will support Mr Thuranira,” she said.
She said hailing from the same community, the two leaders should be keen not to divide Amerus but prioritize on their unity saying it will help them in bargaining for development.
