•Igathe also took the opportunity to congratulate Sakaja for the win.
•In April this year, the former Nairobi deputy governor made a quiet comeback into city politics, seeking to become the next county chief.
Image: PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
Azimio Nairobi candidate Polycarp Igathe has accepted defeat in the just concluded August polls.
"I accept the decision of the people of Nairobi and thank all our supporters," he said.
Igathe came second with 573,518 votes after Kenya Kwanza candidate Johnson Sakaja who won with 699,392 votes.
Igathe also took the opportunity to congratulate Sakaja on the win.
"The Governor of Nairobi is His Excellency Johnson Sakaja. Congratulations! God bless Kenya," he added.
In April this year, the former Nairobi deputy governor made a quiet comeback into city politics, seeking to become the next county chief.
His return brought in more ‘complications’ for other Jubilee aspirants who have also been cleared ahead of the nominations.
Other aspirants included Nairobi Governor Ann Kananu, businesswoman Agnes Kagure and Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Richard Ngatia.
Before joining politics, Igathe had an impressive career in the corporate world, serving as the managing director at Vivo Energy Kenya as well as Haco Industries for 10 years.
Igathe was also the chairman of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers and a director at the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, the apex lobby of the private sector in Kenya.
During the Jubilee primaries in April 2017, State House ‘fished’ Igathe from Vivo.
The move was said to be necessary to moderate having the flamboyant Mike Sonko as governor and a deputy who was well versed with corporate management.
However, a few months into office, Igathe and Sonko fell out.
On January 31, 2018, Igathe resigned barely six months after assuming office citing failure to earn the trust of his boss.
“Dear Nairobians, it is with a heavy heart that I resign as the deputy governor of Nairobi effective 1 pm on Jan 31, 2018. I regret that I have failed to earn the trust of the governor to enable me to drive administration and management of the county,” he said.
Last year, while eulogising Capital FM boss Chris Kirubi, Igathe disclosed that it was Kirubi who lured him into politics to become Sonko’s running mate.
He said Kirubi had designed the Sonko-Igathe gubernatorial ticket as part of a greater scheme to make the capital more business friendly.