Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko plans to scuttle President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga's plans for the Nairobi Gubernatorial by-election after his impeachment on Thursday, December 17.
Sources indicate that Sonko is rallying up his support base to back an opposition candidate, especially one that will be fronted by Deputy President William Ruto.
Sonko started his campaigns in Starehe Constituency on Sunday, December 20, and said that he will tour over 15 other constituencies to rally his base. He also initiated a food drive to help families during the Christmas festivity.
"We are strong and we are ready for the by-election," Sonko stated in videos posted on his social media pages.
Former Starehe MP, Bishop Margaret Wanjiru confirmed that she would vie on any seat that DP Ruto will front her.
It is not yet clear whether Ruto will support her to run under Jubilee ticket as Kenyatta and ODM are preparing to front a joint candidate.
"I work with Ruto, so I will vie with the Hustler Nation team. We work with what wananchi say. The people have decided it's me and it is up to them to decide the ticket I will use," Wanjiru said.
Suba East MP Junet Mohamed confirmed that Jubilee and ODM have not yet met to discuss how to approach the by-election. However, ODM are reported to be ready to support a Jubilee candidate as a way of returning a favour to Kenyatta's party.
Jubilee did not field a candidate in the Kibra 2019 and Msambweni, Kwale December 2020 Parliamentary by-elections which were perceived to be ODM strongholds.
In the upcoming Nairobi elections, ODM have allegedly been promised to take the Deputy Governor position as Jubilee seeks to retain the Governor seat.
A number of names have been floated for the handshake candidate, from former Presidential candidate Peter Kenneth, former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo, Head of Presidential Delivery Unit Nzioka Waita to Dennis Waweru (former Dagoretti South MP and Building Bridges Initiative taskforce member).
Exiled lawyer, Miguna Miguna, and politician Agnes Gakure declared interests in the seat.
Meanwhile, County Assembly Speaker Benson Mutura will be sworn in on Monday, December 21, to take over for 60 days before the by-election is conducted.
