Campaigns to succeed the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) president Kiprono Kittony have started.

In a tight two horse race, Kittony’s deputy James Mureu and Nairobi chairman Richard Ngatia are engaged in a war of words before the official commencement of race. 

Mureu has dismissed Ngatia’s interest in the quest to succeed Kittony as inconsequential.

He said Ngatia remains irrelevant in the battle to take over from outgoing KNCCI President when the proper time comes.

“As far as I am concerned Ngatia remains just a busybody and more questions remain unanswered on how he made his way into the Nairobi chapter,” he pointed out.

The KNCCI vice president dismissed media reports that Ngatia is likely to take over from Kittony as president upon the expiry of his tenure.

Mureu said according to the chambers of commerce records Ngatia and his allies are not qualified to be candidates to succeed Kittony.

He wondered why they are engaged in premature campaigns even before the elections are officially announced saying he is the front runner and best placed to win the presidency.

“I am the incumbent and should be the one to chest-thump to succeed Kittony but not Ngatia who is still green in the chamber politics,” he pointed out.

The KNCC vice president said he has the experience of taking the chamber to the next level.

 Mureu dismissed Ngatia’s candidature arguing that he was talking from experience and has what it takes in the chamber circle.

He blasted Ngatia’s tactics of a second candidate Laban Onditi who withdrew in his favour.