Candidates line up for city mayor polls
Photo/FILE
Acting Nairobi mayor George Aladwa and Geoffrey Majiwa (right) during elections at City Hall in Nairobi, August 15, 2010. Mr Aladwa has been acting since Mr Majiwa resigned over a cemetery corruption scandal.
Intense lobbying has begun for the Nairobi City mayoral elections.
Five councillors, among them acting mayor George Aladwa, have so far declared their interest in the seat.
Mr Aladwa has been acting since Geoffrey Majiwa resigned over a cemetery corruption scandal.
Others in the race are Mr Michael Ogada, the Finance committee chairman, Mr Elisha Otieno, the chairman of the planning committee. The three are from the ODM party.
The PNU candidates are Mr Mutunga Mutungi, who lost narrowly in the last elections and Muthurwa Ward councillor James Mwangi Gakuya.
Mr Aladwa enjoys cordial relationship with councillors across the parties and tribal divide, but he faces stiff competition from his Orange party colleagues and those in PNU.
A circular from the Ministry of Local Government will be released soon to give guidelines for the elections.
The city has not had an elected mayor since Mr Majiwa stepped down after he was arraigned in court over a cemetery deal that saw the council lose more than Sh287 million.
His deputy, Mr Aladwa, has been acting since then awaiting the fresh polls. Party affiliations, tribal lines and wealth may play a pivotal role on who will clinch the seat.
