Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati suffered a major blow after Nangalama Sitati whom he had picked as his running mate decided to resign a day before presenting of nomination papers to IEBC on Tuesday morning.
Addressing journalists at his home in Siandumba village in Milima ward in Tongaren constituency, Sitati said he had made a decision after a group of Ford Kenya supporters led by Bungoma senator Moses Wetangula complained and went to EACC saying that he had not resigned as the Tongaren Constituency manager but he said he is not a civil servant but an MP appointee which should not affect his nomination.
He said under Parliamentary Service Commission a Constituency manager was not a state officer so he was not supposed to resign.
“A constituency manager is not a state officer who is supposed to resign, so taking my issue to EACC is pure witch hand and we know Ford Kenya mandarins have a hand in it,” he alleged
He has however, asked Governor Wycliffe Wangamati to nominate another running mate from the minority Tachoni community since the seat belongs to them and said initially Tachoni Council of elders had forwarded three names of which he was picked and appealed to Wangamati to pick from the remaining two who are Mr. Evans Murumba and Mr. Alips Butiya to feel his space commending that the two are equal to the task if given an opportunity.
Nangalama has promised to stick to Wangamati’s camp regardless of what has transpired and promised the Kenya Kwanza coalition a tough campaign and that he will be in the forefront to campaign for the DAP –K candidates and Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Presidential candidate Raila Odinga to become the fifth President of the Republic of Kenya.
”I will not be discouraged, I will channel my energies elsewhere and I promise Senator Wetangula’s team a tough campaign but of course peaceful one,” said tough talking Nangalama.
He said he has consulted with the family, friends, DAP-K leadership and the Governor himself over the issue and he has their blessings.
So far two candidate have been cleared to vie for governorship and they include; Senate speaker Kenneth Lusaka (Ford Kenya) and businessman Zacharia Barasa) UDP)