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DP Ruto being misled on Nairobi candidate – Sonko


Nairobi Senator Mike Mbuvi Sonko has accused a clique of ‘political conmen’ around Deputy President William Ruto of misleading him on the actual political situation in Nairobi City County as the battle for the Jubilee ticket in the 2017 Nairobi governorship rages on.

Speaking in Ainamoi, Kericho County on Saturday afternoon when he attended the homecoming ceremony of a 10-year old cancer survivor, Scanty Chelang’at whom he assisted to travel to India for treatment in 2015, Mr Sonko said he was the best choice for Jubilee to run for the Nairobi governorship in 2017.

POLITICAL CONMEN

“There is a clique of political conmen in Nairobi which has been lying to Mr Ruto that if I become the governor of Nairobi next year, I would hinder his ambitions to become president in 2022 by running [for president]. Those are liars who must be condemned and be defeated at all costs,” said Senator Sonko.

The flamboyant senator, who was given a warm reception by thousands of Kericho residents, vowed to do everything in his power to ensure the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta and DP Ruto, adding that he would support Mr Ruto to succeed President Kenyatta to State House in 2022.

Mr Sonko, who was accompanied by an aspirant for South C Ward county assembly seat Donnie Langat, announced that in 2032 – when Mr Ruto is expected to have completed the constitutional two terms in office as President – he would run for the county’s top job.

“We have a structure in Jubilee. In 2022, I will traverse the country mobilising support for Mr Ruto but in 2032, I will run for President.

DYNASTIES

“Some people think the presidency is for dynasties, I will prove to them that even a Kenyan from a poor background like myself can win the coveted seat,” he added.

He hit out at Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, accusing him of misappropriating public funds and dismissed plans by the governor to run for president in 2022.

Senator Sonko warned Jubilee that it risked losing in the Nairobi governor’s race if it nominated Water CS Eugene Wamalwa, former Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru or Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru to run against Governor Kidero in 2017, noting that recent opinion polls had placed him way ahead of his fellow Jubilee aspirants for the seat.

“We should not play poker with the governorship of Nairobi or we will lose it. The people of Nairobi know that I am the best bet for Jubilee.

“There should be no nominations for the governorship in the Jubilee Party, but we can have nominations to elect my running mate,” he added.

The Senator dismissed allegations that he had already chosen a running mate, saying anyone who claims to have been chosen was an impostor and asked Nairobi residents to ignore them.