NAKURU Town legislator Lee Kinyanjui has officially announced his candidature for the Nakuru county governor's seat.

Kinyanjui who is assistant minister for Roads and has said he will apply his legislative and government administration experience to capture the seat in next elections.

Addressing journalists at a Nakuru hotel, the MP said that he had reached the decision to offer his candidature after a protracted consultative process. He said the move is motivated by a desire to guard Nakuru's stature as the fastest growing urban area, a feat he said was achieved during his tenure as MP.

The youthful legislator said that he would be relying on his performance record as Nakuru Town MP to prove to the electorate in the county's six constituencies that he is the best man for the job. "I have legislative experience and a wealth of government managerial skills as assistant minister and that is what Nakuru needs to compete favourably with other counties," he said.

Kinyanjui, 38, was first elected to parliament in 2007. He holds a Masters degree in business administration from the University of Nairobi and a bachelor's degree in Literature from Kenyatta University. The MP said that during his tenure, Nakuru has managed to reclaim itself from post-election violence that rocked the constituency and achieved phenomenal growth in its economy and infrastructure.

He said that because of the cosmopolitan nature of Nakuru county, political candidates will have to tread carefully during campaigns not to alienate some communities. "I am one of the few MPs in the country who can boast of having managed a cosmopolitan constituency without alienating minority communities in the area," he said adding his politics would focus on inclusiveness.

Kinyanjui said that he would be consulting in coming weeks before announcing his party platform and a running mate. The assistant minister is likely to face stiff competition from other candidates who have already declared interest in the Nakuru governor's seat including Naivasha MP John Mututho and former Subukia legislator Koigi Wamwere. Administration Police commandant Kinuthia Mbugua has also declared his interest in vying for the governor's seat.