As politics realignments take shape ahead of the 2022 General Elections, the United Democratic Alliance will today be holding a meeting with aspirants who wish to contest in Nairobi.
The meeting will be held at Deputy President William Ruto's residence in Karen.
"United Democratic Alliance wishes to announce that the meeting scheduled for August 19, 2021, is strictly for those who wish to contest in Nairobi County, are fully paid up and registered as Aspirants," read a communication notice from UDA.
Nairobi currently has 122 Members of the County Assembly; 85 are elected and 37 are nominated while the Members of Parliament are 17.
Nairobi leaders who appear to be fully in support of UDA are Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, Benjamin Gathiru Mwangi (Embakasi Central), Nixon Korir (Lang'ata), John Kiarie Waweru (Dagorreti South), Embakasi East's George Theuri and Nominated Senator Millicent Omanga who were elected and nominated under the Jubilee Party.
In the County assembly, MCAs who will be defending their seats are yet to align themselves with political parties.
Politicians eyeing political seats in Nairobi have appeared to be biding their time, with one year left to the 2022 General Election.
The Gubernatorial race is complicated by the fact the county is partly managed by Acting Governor Anne Kananu and the Nairobi Metropolitan Services.
UDA had already fronted televangelist and ex-assistant minister Margaret Wanjiru to fly the Tangatanga flag in Nairobi before the High Court halted the by-election that had been slated for February.
Jubilee's Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja has also shown interest in the gubernatorial seat but has not declared under which party.
Political analyst and lawyer Danston Omari opined that Nairobi politics will pick up after the presidential contest takes shape.
“Nairobi is a very technical place to show your interest [early] because the presidential pattern is not clear. Whether it is Deputy President William Ruto or ODM leader Raila Odinga. They will give direction to Nairobi,” he told the Star .
Omari said President Uhuru Kenyatta's interests in the county and the role of the NMS are other factors for the muted political scene.
Edited by D Tarus
