Nominated MP Johnson Sakaja has quit the Nairobi governor race and presented nomination papers for the senator seat.
Sakaja told the Star on Thursday that he made the decision after consulting widely with people including "our boss" and colleagues.
He added that all those who will vie for governor are his friends and that there comes a time when leaders must make sacrifices.
"I have sacrificed so as to unite Jubilee in Nairobi. Moving as a divided team would be a sure route to loss," he said.
"I am leading by example.. it had too many people. Let me try my luck in the senate."
The August 8 election has seen Nairobi politicians split into two factions.
Sakaja's team includes Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko,
former Starehe MP
Margaret Wanjiru and Dennis Waweru of Dagoretti South.
The other team is of governor aspirant Peter Kenneth, who is from Murang'a county, Nominated Senator Beatrice Elachi and MPs Rachel Shebesh (woman representative), Maina Kamanda (Starehe) and James Gakuya (Embakasi North).
Sakaja will vie for the seat held by Sonko, who is in the race to replace Governor Evans Kidero.
He held a press conference after his papers were accepted at Jubilee Party's headquarters in Pangani.
The legislator said the city requires exemplary leadership as it Africa's New York.
"The seat is not about Sakaja. It is for Nairobi," he said, adding he will support whoever is chosen to lead the Jubilee team in Nairobi.
"I
will give 100 per cent support. Jubilee requires a team that can represent all the generations," he said.
In 2016, focus shifted to Sakaja's academic qualifications after it emerged that the TNA chairman may not have completed his degree in Actuarial Science at the University of Nairobi in 2003.
Documents alleged to be his university transcripts were circulating in social media. But the the politician said he completed his studies.
"That issue was done and dusted," he told the Star. "By the time you are getting into some of these things [campaigns, you have to make sure that your back is covered."
Kenneth presented his nomination papers to Jubilee Party on Wednesday.
The aspirant said he will square it out with his opponents during the nominations and that his goal was to ensure Jubilee leads the county and is well represented at the assembly.
"Our goal as aspirants for Nairobi governor is to remove [Evans] Kidero. We must achieve this. Any sideshow is not for our taking," he told journalists.
"We have seen Nairobi deteriorating daily... We will deal with Kidero conclusively on August 8 to end his atrocities."
Also read: