Mbaru to vie for Nairobi Governor on APK ticket
Nairobi Governor aspirant Jimnah Mbaru registers as a voter at the Holy Family Basilica on November 26, 2012. Mr Mbaru will contest the governor's post on an Alliance Party of Kenya (APK) ticket January 24, 2013. FILE
Businessman Jimnah Mbaru will now run for the Nairobi Governor post on an Alliance Party of Kenya (APK) ticket.
Mr Mbaru's name was in the list of candidates submitted by Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi's APK to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Wednesday.
He lost The National Alliance (TNA) primaries to former Embakasi MP Ferdinand Waititu after which he joined APK.
Mr Mbaru polled 15,776 votes against Mr Waititu's 26,280 votes, according to contested results released by the party.
Mr Mbaru lodged a complaint against Mr Waititu but the dispute is yet to be resolved.
An APK national official said Mr Mbaru joined the party on January 18, the day the TNA nominations were held.
However, Mr Mbaru is yet to name his running mate.
The new development also came as Narc, a partner in the Jubilee coalition, cleared a 26- year-old accountant to run for the governor.
Jeff Kobia, a former Strathmore University student was working for a corporate organisation before he quit to join the race.
Mr Kobia has named Kasarani women leader Wanjiku Mwangi as his running mate.
Ms Mwangi lost to former Nominated MP Rachel Shebesh in the race for TNA’s Nairobi Women Representative ticket.
Mr Mbaru and Mr Kobia will battle it out with Mr Waititu, Cord’s candidate Evans Kidero and Ford People’s Eric Mokua.
