Deputy President William Ruto’s key ally Benjamin Washiali has said he will not be defending his Mumias East parliamentary seat in the upcoming elections.
In a statement posted on his official Twitter page on Sunday, January 2, the legislators said he would not be on the ballot.
He stated that he would instead focus on ensuring the former Agriculture Minister wins the hotly anticipated elections to succeed retiring President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“It’s been an honour serving the People of Mumias East, with gratitude I appreciate that you placed your hope and aspirations in me for the last 15 years, I have served diligently, am grateful for the development strides we’ve made,
“Therefore come August, I will not be running for office,” Washiali said.
Washiali, who has been the area MP for the last 15 years further thanked his constituents for allowing him to serve them for over a decade ago asking the voters to vote for somebody who would serve them better.
“It is with much humility that I therefore once again ask you, people of Mumias East, to come August, elect a leader who will not only better the best that we have achieved this far, but also be tenacious and zealous in their service delivery,” he added.
This comes following earlier reports claiming that Washiali had expressed interests in succeeding Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala who has since thrown his hat in the ring for the Kakamega gubernatorial seat.
During the heated 2017 General Election, Washiali contested and won the Mumias East parliamentary seat on a Jubilee ticket.
However, following the March 2018 truce between President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga, the lawmaker joined William Ruto’s Tangatanga faction becoming the DP’s defender.
