Kidero and Sonko fracas part of big battle to control Nairobi

Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko is led out of Parliament by orderlies on June 15, 2016 after he engaged in a physical fight with Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero. PHOTO | JEREMIAH KIPLAGAT | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Most aspirants from the ruling Jubilee coalition have deployed teams to “unearth scandals” about their opponents.
  • More damning allegations on the history of the candidates, their faith, business associates or dealings and sexual orientation will soon come to the limelight, especially online, with the real potential to destroy families and careers.
  • Already Mr Sakaja has been forced to disown academic transcripts that have been doing rounds online allegedly capturing his poor undergraduate performance at the University of Nairobi. 

The scuffle between Governor Evans Kidero and Senator Mike Sonko two weeks ago may have passed as a shameful incident but in it lies deep-seated competition for control of the capital city next year.

It underpins the dirty side of city politics expected to get even murkier with the latest information indicating that most aspirants from the ruling Jubilee coalition have deployed teams to “unearth scandals” about their opponents.

More damning allegations on the history of the candidates, their faith, business associates or dealings and sexual orientation will soon come to the limelight, especially online, with the real potential to destroy families and careers.

Those who have expressed interest to run for governor on a Jubilee ticket — including Dagoretti South MP Denis Waweru, Mr Sonko, TNA chairman and nominated MP Johnson Sakaja and Margaret Wanjiru — are said to have set up social media teams to help propagate their agenda and target opponents. Mr Kidero too has his social media team ready.

Already Mr Sakaja has been forced to disown academic transcripts that have been doing rounds online allegedly capturing his poor undergraduate performance at the University of Nairobi. 

“I have seen the attempts by some aspirants to play dirty but I choose to stick to issues that matter to the residents of Nairobi,” he said.

MIRRORS TOUGH DUEL

The saga around Mr Sakaja’s transcripts mirrors the tough duel in Cord in the run-up to last elections when Bishop Wanjiru, then an aspirant for the governor’s seat on an ODM ticket, fell off the way after questions emerged about her academic credentials.

She has since graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Leadership and Management, perhaps the clearest sign that she is out to atone for her 2013 experience when she was forced to vie for senate seat at the last minute and lost to Mr Sonko.

In the physical confrontation during a senate committee sitting, Mr Sonko reportedly used expletives as the face-off forced the cancellation of the session.

Governor Kidero, through his communication team, later claimed he was the victim. Mr Waweru condemned the physical confrontation by suggested the two were not fit to lead the city.

“Nairobi County needs ideological heavyweights and leaders willing to punch higher for forward-looking and sustainable projects. The Governor and the Senator have punched too low for any sensible growth of the city. That is why we have stagnated for the last four years of devolution despite the billions of shillings allocated to the city County Government,” Mr Waweru said.

The Sunday Nation has learnt that the intense rivalry in Jubilee over who should be given the mantle to run for governor is fuelled by President Uhuru Kenyatta’s challenge to all aspirants that they must prove their ability to mobilise the city residents to not only vote them in but also add votes to the presidential basket next year.

The Sunday Nation has also leant that top Jubilee leaders have been tasked to identify the best candidate.

Deputy President William Ruto is on record saying that the ruling coalition must capture the seat.

“This time round, liwe liwalo, juu chini, kushoto kulia, mbele na nyuma, lazima tupate hii kura ya gavana wa Nairobi (let come what may, up-down, left-right, both sides, we must get Nairobi’s governor vote),” he said.