The Kenyan ambassador to Belgium Kembi Gitura has resigned to concentrate on his campaigns for the Murang'a County Senate seat.
Mr Gitura, who is also a former Kiharu MP, Thursday said he had stepped down from his position to seek the Senator seat.
“I have tendered my resignation and the President has accepted it after serving in Belgium for three years. I am now ready to vie for the Senate seat in Murang’a County,” he said during a news conference at a Murang’a hotel.
Mr Gitura said he resigned with effect from July 30 and was ready to take on other contestants including former Kanu Secretary General Joseph Kamotho.
While thanking President Kibaki for appointing him as ambassador since March 2009, he said he would vie for the seat under The National Alliance (TNA) party ticket whose presidential aspirant is Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta.
Prior to his entry, the race for the Senator seat in Murang’a was a one horse race as it was only Mr Kamotho who had declared interest.
While declaring his interest, the former envoy said his aim was not to compete with Mr Kamotho but to ensure that Murang’a would be adequately represented in the senate.
“I will support Uhuru (Kenyatta) in his bid for presidency and I will join his supporters who are campaigning for him,” he said.
He expressed confidence that he would defeat Mr Kamotho in the race and he would seek endorsement from all the leaders in the County.
Mr Kamotho, on the other hand, has the support of five MPs from Murang’a who include Mathioya MP Clement Wambugu, Maragua’s Elias Mbau, Mr Mwangi, Maina Kamau (Kandara) and Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth.
