President Uhuru Kenyatta's confidant and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) President Richard Ngatia's Nairobi Gubernatorial bid has received a massive boost as the race to City Hall begins to unfold.
A total of 67 Members of the Nairobi County Assembly on Wednesday, January 12, endorsed Ngatia to go for the City's top seat.
The Gubernatorial aspirant had hosted the MCAs, drawn from both Jubilee and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) parties, for a meeting whereby he made a number of pledges if elected.
From better working conditions to a smooth relationship between the Governor and the MCAs, Ngatia urged the legislators to rally behind his bid.
Ziwani MCA Milicent Mugadi led the front- noting that Ngatia was best suited for the role.
"We have listened to Ngatia and we have decided unanimously without doubt that he is the best for the seat. Personally, I believe Richard Ngatia is the best candidate for the governor’s position in Nairobi. We have seen others crisscross the city but I believe in Ngatia’s resume and his work which speaks for itself,” Mugadi stated.
"We have the right candidate and the right party. President Uhuru and ODM leader Raila are supporting Ngatia's bid and we are behind him. All of us are ready to support Ngatia to bring back the glory of Nairobi," she noted.
The MCAs had raised a pertinent issue of the strained relationship between them and past governors which had affected service delivery within the country's Capital City, which is an economic hub.
Ngatia vowed to solve the issue and work with all the MCAs and leaders regardless of party affiliation.
"Ngatia has shared his vision for the city and even how he will work with MCAs once elected, something that has been a problem for a long time. MCAs must have a Governor who will work with everyone once elected and not only working with MCAs elected on his party," one MCA noted during the meeting.
Gatina Ward MCA David Ayoi also affirmed that Ngatia's track record proved his suitability as the best candidate for the role.
"Ngatia is the best candidate for the handshake team. We will mobilise votes for him from all corners of Nairobi because he is the only candidate who has the pedigree to bring back the glory of Nairobi."
"We won't gamble with people who have questionable character. We want a clean person to cleanup Nairobi. That man is Richard Ngatia," Ayoi reiterated.
The move is seen as a massive node for Ngatia as Nairobi County consists of 85 elected and 38 nominated MCAs. Out of the 85, Jubilee has 45 MCAs, while ODM got 38 seats.
Already, the incumbent governor Anne Kananu has vowed to defend the seat in the forthcoming polls. Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja, Westlands Member of Parliament Tim Wanyonyi and televangelist Bishop Margaret Wanjiru are also eyeing the seat.
