Jubilee aspirants agree to settle on one candidate for Nairobi governorship race

Jubilee Party National Campaign team has proposed a consensus that would see all its Nairobi governorship aspirants settle on one candidate.

In a meeting held in Nairobi on Monday, the team called on Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko, nominated MP Johnson Sakaja, Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru and Bishop Margaret Wanjiru – all who have declared interest in the seat – to agree on who will be the candidate and who will be the running mate.

“We have agreed that all the four aspirants should discuss and decide who will run as Nairobi governor and who will be the running mate in a bid to unify the party,” said Waweru.

While the decision is seen as a move to avoid divisions in the party, pundits perceive it as a move to edge out former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth – a candidate who is increasingly receiving attention, with some party officials reportedly favouring him for the key seat.

Kenneth has left many guessing on which seat he will be vying for. The former presidential candidate turned gubernatorial aspirant had hinted that he was considering running for office in Nakuru, Nairobi or Murang’a.

Political pundits have, however, moved to demystify the mystery of Kenneth’s candidature, saying he would likely run in Nairobi and use it as a grooming ground in preparation for 2022 presidential elections.

Kenneth has, however, denied claims that he would rival Ruto in 2022, saying he would fully back the deputy president’s candidature in the polls.

Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, who has openly declared his interest in the Nairobi governorship seat on a Jubilee Party ticket, was conspicuously absent from the meeting.