Vihiga Women’s rep contest has taken a new dimension with deputy president William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Jackline Mwenesi, bolting out of the race in favour of Amani National Congress (ANC) party candidate Beatrice Adagala.

Speaking at Kidundu ground in Vihiga,  Jackline Mwenesi reiterated that the ongoing push and pull within Kenya Kwanza Alliance for women rep seat might pose a division of votes region and Azimio – One Kenya candidate, Winnie Majani, would bag the victory.

“It has come to my realization that if we don’t play our games well under Kenya Kwanza Alliance, we might lose this seat (Women rep)  to Azimio – One Kenya. When we divide our votes against the candidates in Kenya Kwanza, Winnie Majani of Azimio might go with this seat. And since this is Kenya Kwanza bedroom, we want to secure all the elective seats, from MCAs to governor” she said.

“Having said so, I want to publicly announce that I will not be vying for women rep seat in Vihiga in this forthcoming election. I will support ANC candidate Beatrice Adagala” Mwenesi dropped her bid.

Adagala expresses gratitude to Jackline Mwenesi

Thankful Adagala embraced Mwenesi’s brevity to sacrifice her (Mwenesi) ambition to support her (Adagala) for the re-election bid.

Adagala is seeking to defend her women rep seat in the August battle on Mudavadi’s ANC party ticket.

Mudavadi is also tightening the party’s political strings in the county to oust incumbent Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate Wilberforce Ottichilo from the gubernatorial post.

Wilberforce Ottichilo secured the seat in 2017 and he is set to face off Sabatia MP Alfred Agoi (ANC) for the county seat.

This comes at a time when Mudavadi and Wetangula are traversing the region while drumming and rallying electorates to support DP Ruto’s presidential bid, a move interpreted as beating the target of 70 percent set by DP Ruto for 30 percent shares of the Kenya Kwanza government.