Mariga is UhuRuto candidate, JP leaders tell Kibra electorate
Jubilee politicians have dismissed propaganda that the Kibra contest was a political battle between Opposition leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto.
Led by Langata MP Nixon Korir, the politicians urged Kibra voters to elect MacDonald Mariga as the leader of their choice.
“The perception being created that this contest is between DP Ruto and Raila as part of a warm-up duel in 2022 to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta, is farfetched. This is simply a contest between the aspiring parliamentarians,” he said.
Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie said Mariga was not a Ruto candidate but a Jubilee candidate, endorsed by Uhuru and the entire party.
Uhuru support
“Mariga is our bet and those claiming that Uhuru’s endorsement was through the backdoor should accept this fact and move on. The President is firmly behind Mariga,” said Kiarie.
Mariga was his father, Noah Wanyama, appealed to Kibra voters to elect his son.The senior Wanyama, who—like his son—is a former international football star, urged the residents to vote in Mariga “because he is a nationalist”.
Speaking at the DC grounds in Kibra during a public rally yesterday, Wanyama said if elected, Mariga will not discriminate anyone regardless of their tribe or status. Instead he will work to improve the welfare of all residents.
“Mariga, my son, is not a tribalist but someone who treats everyone equally. He is your servant, therefore elect him to improve the livelihood of the Kibra constituents,” he said. He promised residents that Mariga would improve the Woodley field to international standards where youths will nurture their talents.
Mariga promised to use his European soccer connections to tap talents in the area: “I have a lot of friends in Europe, who I will invite and work with to construct a talents’ academy in Kibra in a bid to help the youths eke out a living and eradicate unemployment,” he said, and promised to upgrade the Woodley grounds to a stadium.
Nominated Senator Millicent Omanga accused Jubilee opponents of chest-thumping by branding Kibra as their bedroom: “We cannot chest thump like the others by referring to a constituency as a bedroom. Voters will decide who their leader will be,” she said.
Embakasi North MP Mwangi Gakuya said Mariga was the best bet for Kibra residents.
Those cleared
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has cleared twenty-three candidates to participate in the Kibra Parliamentary by election slated for November 7.
The Kibra parliamentary seat fell vacant in July following the death of Ken Okoth who succumbed to cancer.
Out of those who have been cleared, 16 candidates are sponsored by political parties while 7 are running as independent candidates.
