Wiper rejects Azimio zoning plan in Nairobi

The Wiper party has said it will not be subjected to zoning as its Nairobi candidates must be on the ballot.

Nairobi chairman Roy Kivusyu said zoning doesn’t affect Wiper.

He said it is being conducted by ODM and Jubilee.

“The first zoning was done when Wiper as not fully part of Azimio and the two parties never considered us. Even the zoning they are talking about now will not affect Wiper,” he said

“How does one person wake up and decide and tell other candidates to stop campaigning and drop their bid yet we are less than 50 days to the polls?” Kivusyu posed.

Last Friday, the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition said they adopted a rationalisation plan that compels constituent parties to harmonise candidates to counter increased sibling rivalries.

The decision was reached after the coalition’s presidential candidate Raila Odinga convened a meeting at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.

“After reviewing various reports, the council approved a strategy to synergise the strength brought by each party by rationalising and harmonising candidates and mandated each constituent party to implement the strategy,”  Junet Mohamed, Azimio council secretary general said.

The strategy is to make sure they get the majority seats in the next Parliament and county assemblies.

Already, there have been three casualties.

ODM Embakasi North parliamentary candidate Jane Muringi has been prevailed upon to step down for Jubilee’s Harrison Wangoro.

Irshad Sumra had agreed to step down for Wiper’s Julius Mawathe in Embakasi South and Singer Kevin Kioko ‘Bahati” was told to step aside for ODM’s Anthony Oluch of Mathare.

Despite all this, Wiper said they will continue with their campaigns as their candidates have been cleared.

So far wiper has 35 candidates seeking MCA positions and six parliamentary hopefuls.

They include Ben Milai (Mathare), Fred Akech (Makadara), Tabitha Mutero of Kasarani, Joash Omwenga (Embakasi East), Julius Mawathe ( Embakasi South) and Kamukuji hopeful.

Wiper’s Kivusyu said the Kamba community is the second-largest voting bloc in Nairobi and they cannot be relegated to a few seats.

“We are ready to go and let’s meet at the ballot. The party is strong and ready to meet our opponents,” he said.

The zoning will have casualties, with the most affected being those from ODM, Jubilee and Wiper, if they will not escape the axe.

Nairobi has 17 subcounties and 85 wards. Out of this, ODM had been given 7 seats, Jubilee 9 and Wiper one.

In the Azimio lineup that had been revealed in April, ODM had the incumbent MPs retaining most positions.

They include Anthony Oluoch (Mathare), Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino (Embakasi East), TJ Kajwang ( Ruaraka) , George Aladwa (Makadara) and Tim Wanyonyi who is the current Westlands MP.

The new faces included former Kiss FM presenter Felix Odiwour, alias Jalang'o who won the Langata primaries and Peter Orero won the Kibra nominations.

Following Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati's choice to run for Kisii governor,  Gender CAS Beatrice Elachi was given the ticket to succeed him.

Jubilee had incumbent and new faces who were awarded the nomination tickets.

The incumbents include Ndirangu Waihenya (Roysambu), Mercy Gakuya (Kasarani) and Abdi Yussuf Hassan (Kamukunji).

The new faces were given tickets in areas where the current MPs defected to the United Democratic Alliance party and are defending their seats.

Former Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru is set to make a comeback in an attempt to defeat the incumbent John Kiarie.

Harrison Wangoro was given the Embakasi North ticket seeking to defeat MP James Gakuya.

The late David Mwenje’s son Mark Mwenje was given the Jubilee ticket and will battle it with UDA’s George Theuri who is seeking a third term.

Kayole North MCA Samuel Mwangi will face UDA’s Embakasi Central Benjamin Mwangi.

Jubilee has given the Starehe ticket to Amos Mwago who will face EALA MP Simon Mbugua.

Edited by Kiilu Damaris