Nairobi MPs are trying to unite aspirants eyeing the governor position on a Jubilee ticket. But only two of the six – Water CS Eugene Wamalwa and former Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru – attended the first meeting yesterday.
The MPs, led by Starehe’s Maina Kamanda, called the meeting at the Norfolk Hotel. Aspirants Dennis Waweru (Dagoretti South MP), TNA chairman Johnson Sakaja, Senator Mike Sonko and former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende did not attend, despite being invited.
Waweru and Sakaja did not respond to calls amd messages from the Star. “We invited all the aspirants, including Waweru, Sonko and Sakaja. Unfortunately, only two turned up,” Kamanda said.
He said the meeting was called to assure the aspirants that the MPs do not have a preferred candidate for the seat.
“Our aim is to bring all the aspirants together and assure them that they are all equal, according to us,” Kamanda said. He said the legislators will not be involved in the aspirants’ daily campaigns until the nominations are conducted. “We want to win as many seats as possible next year. We want to win the governor’s seat, 14 MP seats and at least 60 MCA seats,” he said.
MPs James Gakuyu (Embakasi North), John Ndirangu (Embakasi Central), George Theuri (Embakasi West), Yusuf Hassan (Kamukunji), John Njoroge (Kasarani) and woman representative Rachel Shebesh were present.
Sakaja and Waweru later met at the Serena Hotel. Sonko was expected. Businesswoman Esther Passaris and Cord leader Raila Odinga’s former aide Miguna Miguna have also said they will run for Nairobi governor.
Passaris said last week she will neither be in Cord nor Jubilee, but will form a new political outfit, the Harambee Democratic Party. It is not clear the party Miguna will vie on.
