Leaders differ on Wamalwa endorsement for governor seat
Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa during a fundraiser for Church of God in East Africa, Mautuma, in Lugari constituency on August 7, 2016. Leaders have clashed on his endorsement to vie for the Nairobi County gubernatorial seat in 2017. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Kanini Kega (Kieni), one of the MPs who endorsed Mr Wamalwa, said their move is meant to neutralise the Opposition’s dominance in Nairobi.
- Debate on who should be Nairobi’s next governor intensified, with three MPs backing Mr Wamalwa in his bid to unseat incumbent Evans Kidero in 2017.
- Mr Kariuki asked Mr Wamalwa not to be cowed by demands from some leaders that he should not vie for Nairobi gubernatorial seat.
Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko and Kiambu Governor William Kabogo have criticised a section of Kiambu MPs for endorsing Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa to contest the Nairobi County governor's seat in 2017.
Speaking during a rally at Gitothua Secondary School in Kiambu on Sunday, the two said the next governor of the city should be elected by residents of Nairobi, and not endorsed by individuals for their personal interests.
“Residents of Nairobi should be allowed to vote for their preferred candidate. Sonko should deliver that message to the people of Nairobi,” said Mr Kabogo.
Mr Sonko said: “I am not afraid of competing with anybody who gets endorsed for the Nairobi governor position. All I ask is that we have fair nominations.”
At the same time, Kanini Kega (Kieni), one of the MPs who endorsed Mr Wamalwa, said their move is meant to neutralise the Opposition’s dominance in the county.
“We cannot have the capital city governed by the opposition party,” said Mr Kega.
He said Jubilee is working hard to get the leadership of the country’s capital aligned with the ruling side.
RIGHT TO CONTEST
The lawmaker spoke in Naromoru, Nyeri County, at the weekend.
Elsewhere, the debate on who should be Nairobi’s next governor intensified on Sunday, with three MPs backing Mr Wamalwa in his bid to unseat incumbent Evans Kidero in 2017.
The leaders — Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Ayub Savula (Lugari) and Stephen Kariuki (Mathare) — also said they want a new electoral team to be headed by retired Anglican Archbishop Eliud Wabukala.
The lawmakers said all Kenyans have a right to contest in any part of the country.
Mr Kuria said Nairobi County belongs to the country’s 42 tribes and no one should be barred from contesting. “CS Wamalwa has a right to seek that seat,” he said.
Mr Kariuki urged Mr Wamalwa not to be cowed by demands from some leaders that he should not vie for the seat.
