Nairobi Jubilee gubernatorial aspirants told to unite

From left: Jubilee Party gubernatorial aspirants Johnson Sakaja, Margaret Wanjiru, Mike Sonko and Dennis Waweru during the launch of the the party's smart membership card at Kasarani Gymnasium on January 13, 2017. PHOTO |JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • One camp is allied to former Katanga MP Peter Kenneth, Starehe MP Maina Kamanda and Woman Rep Rachael Shebesh.
  • The other group includes Senator Mike Sonko, Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru, former Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru and nominated MP Johnson Sakaja.
  • Jubilee Nairobi County chairman Sunctus Ndegwa said the party is open to either consensus or nomination on deciding the flag-bearer for the party in a bid to unseat Governor Evans Kidero.

Nairobi County Jubilee party officials have called on its gubernatorial aspirants to remain united and embrace democracy in their quest to be declared the party’s choice.

This comes after the emergence of cracks in Jubilee over the selection formula for the Nairobi governorship candidate when two camps emerged.

One camp is allied to former Katanga MP Peter Kenneth, Starehe MP Maina Kamanda and Woman Rep Rachael Shebesh.

The other group includes Senator Mike Sonko, Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru, former Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru and nominated MP Johnson Sakaja.

Jubilee Nairobi County chairman Sunctus Ndegwa said the party is open to either consensus or nomination on deciding the flag-bearer for the party in a bid to unseat Governor Evans Kidero.

“We are in support of the ongoing democratic process in our party. We have no problem in Jubilee in Nairobi and what we are witnessing is democracy,” said Mr Ndegwa.

For his part, party Secretary-General Anthony Buluma exuded confidence, saying they will win the Nairobi governor's seat with a landslide and called on all aspirants on the party’s ticket in Nairobi to mobilise residents to register in large numbers so that the party can maintain its political grip in the city.

“Our common enemy is Evans Kidero, who has denied Nairobi her glory. Victory starts now and this will depend on the number of voters we shall have registered,” said Mr Buluma.

He added that Jubilee wants to enlist 10 million members in the ongoing party membership recruitment after launching a countrywide mass party recruitment drive on January 13.