Football star McDonald Mariga has publicly made clear his stance to vie for the Jubilee party ticket in the upcoming Kibra by-elections.
Mariga is among 16 aspirants who will be interviewed by the Party Elections Board in his bid to clinch the nomination.
As he made his way to the party offices in Pangani to submit his credentials, the footballer was accompanied by his supporters.
The supporters chanted his name and held banners reading "Mariga ni Wetu!"
Addressing the media outside the party's offices, Mariga stated that he decided to run in service for the community.
“I am not a project of anyone and I will support whoever wins since I was born and raised in Kibra,” Mariga explained.
Jubilee NEB Chairperson Andrew Musangi revealed that the decision on who will emerge as the party's flag bearer would be announced on Monday, after having completed the interviews.
Other candidates who have been shortlisted include Jack Owino, Omondi Rajab, Daniel Adem, Daniel Orogo, Ramadhan Hussein, Frank Amollo, Morris Kinyanjui, Walter Trenk, Ibrahim Said, Doreen Wasike, Geoffrey Mwangi, Oscar Kambona, Bukachi Chapin, Jane Githaiga and Timothy Kaimenyi.
Mariga's clearance comes against the backdrop of People Daily's, reports which confirmed that the DP had identified the 32-year-old footballer as the “right” candidate for the Kibra by-election, which fell vacant following the death of Ken Okoth on July 26, 2019.
“He first sought to know whether the footballer was a registered voter and luckily, Mariga is registered in Starehe Constituency,” revealed a source, who according to the publication, was authorised to speak on behalf of the party.
