• At this year’s County Gala Awards, Minority leader Ogada got the award for the best-performing MCA in Nairobi.
• Majority Leader Abdi Hassan has served for two terms as Jubilee Party MCA and was a councillor from 2007 to 2012 under the The National Alliance party (TNA)
Image: NCCA
Nairobi politicians have started to align themselves and aim for new positions as city politics takes shape, with eight months to 2022.
Some MCAs have had enough of City Hall and now are eyeing seats in the National Assembly and Senate.
Politicians eyeing political seats in Nairobi appear to be biding their time.
In the assembly, 85 elected MCAs have started aligning themselves, some seeking to defend their seats, others remaining mum on their plans.
The 37 nominated MCAs have also started politicking and a number want to be elected in 2022.
MICHAEL OGADA
Minority leader Michaal Ogada will challenge Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili, better known as Babu Owino of ODM.
Ogada has been in Nairobi politics for 20 years, including 10 years as a councillor and 10 as MCA for Embakasi ward, indicating his development record is on track.
“It is serious business and I am not going to budge. My party has made it clear the primaries will be free and fair and nobody will hang onto anyone’s coattails,” he said.
The Embakasi MCA has been propelling ODM’s agenda at the assembly and supported the handshake between ODM boss Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Ogada has served as the vice chairman of the assembly's Finance, Budget and Appropriations committee.
He moved the impeachment motion against former Governor Mike Sonko last December. Eighty-eight MCAs voted for impeachment.
At this year’s County Gala Awards, Ogada was honoured as the best MCA in Nairobi.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
ABDI HASSAN
Matopeni MCA Abdi Hassan, known as Guyo, has announced he wants to run for the Embakasi Central seat held byMP Benjamin Gathiru, popularly known as Major Donk.
Without revealing his political party, the legislator said he will run under the handshake party that will be supported by ODM leader Raila Odinga and President Kenyatta.
The Majority leader said he seeks a higher seat to improve livelihoods and ensure a better quality of life for his constituents.
“We are going to work with everyone to improve the economic situation of our constituency and ultimately the country. Plans are afoot to empower more than 200 youth self-help groups and more than 300 women's groups from Embakasi," he said.
Guyo comes from the Sakuye community in Isiolo county.
He has served as Jubilee Party MCA and was a councillor from 2007 to 2012.
His leadership skills led him to become the Minority leader from 2013 to 2017 under administration of former Governor Evans Kidero.
The 40-year-old politician is said to have the ear of the President and is entrusted with pushing the Jubilee agenda in the assembly.
The legislator was on the frontline in removing Sonko from office and has ensured the Nairobi Metropolitan Services gets all the support needed from the assembly.
Guyo was awarded best MCA overall across the 47 counties at the County Gala Awards 2021 and was earlier ranked best MCA in Nairobi by the Mizani Africa poll.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
JUNE NDEGWA
Jubilee Nominated MCA June Ndegwa has also joined the race to unseat Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru.
Ndegwa has started by making several appearances in the five wards in Embakasi Central: Matopeni, Kayole Central, Kayole North, Komarocks and Kayole South.
If she succeeds, she will be the first woman MP from Embakasi.
Ndegwa has also served as the chairperson of the Kenya Young Members of the County Assemblies Association and has been active in assembly business and the committees she seats in.
In November 2019, she rose to power in the assembly leadership when she was appointed Majority Whip by the Jubilee Party and served for six months.
Image: HANDOUT
ANITA THUMBI
Nominated MCA Anita Thumbi's political path has taken her outside Nairobi and she is eyeing the Tetu parliamentary seat.
A staunch supporter of Deputy President William Ruto, Thumbi will face Tetu MP James Gichuhi who last Sunday announced he was joining the United Democratic Alliance.
She has been spending most of her days in Tetu, selling her manifesto and interacting with the people.
“I am already on the ground and things have heated up. I have everything in place to become the next Tetu MP. Watch this space,” Thumbi said.
She entered the limelight in August 2019 when Sonko announced she had a son with Kibra MP Ken Okoth, now deeased.
Last year, Thumbi reverted to her nursing career to help health workers save lives when the coronavirus pandemic hit Kenya.
Professionally, she is a registered nurse and has eight years of experience working at The Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi Hospital and Kiambu Hospital.
Image: NCCA
KENNEDY OBUYA
Imara Dama MCA Kennedy Obuya is also shifting from Nairobi politics and going back home to Karachounyo subcounty.
Born in Kendu Bay ward and living in Wang’chieng ward, Obuya believes he has the support to replace MP Adipo Okuome on the ODM ticket.
“Mark my words, I will be running on the ODM party come next year and I'm already on the ground identifying my key people in every corner,” Obuya said.
The first-term MCA said Okuome has failed on the ground and his chances of reelection are slim.
“Whether I win or not, Adipo’s chances of coming back are minimal. He has failed the people who had a lot of hope in him,” Obuya added.
Obuya has been living in Imara Daima since 1994 and acknowledged that unity among the the residents was a unique aspect in the ward.
Before joining politics, he served as one of Kidero's bodyguards during his tenure at City Hall.
The ODM legislator has been an active member in the assembly committees and even sat on the Speaker's panel from 2017 to 2019.
(Edited by V. Graham)