City MP backed for job of Nairobi governor
Central Kenya MPs have rattled the political landscape in Nairobi with an endorsement of Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru to run for governor.
The MPs from the Mt Kenya region and who included city TNA MPs, have said they will be working with Mr Waweru in his quest for the top seat.
The rare political move came into the fore on Tuesday at the Sarova Panafric Hotel where the MPs held a consultative meeting that culminated in the endorsement of Mr Waweru to face off with Nairobi Senator Mike Mbuvi Sonko.
Part of the bigger agenda was to issue a strongly worded statement to register their support for Deputy President William Ruto in the political crisis that is boiling over in his Rift Valley yard.
‘ONE OF THEIR OWN’
But during this meeting, the MPs discussed their region’s political future and when the issue of Nairobi County came up, they agreed to support “one of their own” against Mr Sonko.
“We agreed in principle that our interests in the city are very significant and we shall favour a leadership that looks able to stabilise the city’s economic situation. We opted for Mr Waweru and not the senator,” said Ndaragwa MP Waweru Nderitu.
The Dagoretti South MP was further backed by Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi to chair the Central Kenya MPs forum and immediately given the mandate to read the joint statement.
Although President Uhuru Kenyatta and Mr Sonko enjoy a very cordial relationship, the President has kept to himself his opinion over Mr Sonko’s bid for the city’s top seat.
Starehe MP Maina Kamanda has managed to rally the city TNA MPs to consider supporting Mr Waweru’s bid and extended this to Central Kenya’s colleagues.
FORMIDABLE CANDIDATE
“He is offering himself for the seat and as at now, we believe he will be a formidable candidate. We shall continue holding joint meetings as MPs,” Mr Kamanda said on Saturday.
Embakasi North MP Mwangi Gakuya backed the endorsement but said its success will only come if former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka is successfully woed to join the Jubilee Government.
“Looking at our numbers, we shall require Mr Musyoka on board at the national level so that we can also get into a deal with his community for the top city seats,” said Mr Gakuya.
Kiharu MP Irungu Kang’ata and her Thika Town counterpart Alice Ng’ang’a said city politics needed to attract interest of Mt Kenya leaders due to mistakes done in the past.
The new move left former Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru is some awkward position given that she decamped from ODM expecting a level playing ground in the would-be Jubilee Alliance Party primaries.
Ms Wanjiru has insisted she will take her battle to the people when the right time comes.
“I am in the race to the end. We can’t stop people from forming groups but the ultimate decision lies with the people,” said the former MP through an aide.
However, it has emerged that the MPs’ declaration may have resulted from re-energised political activities of Mr Sonko.