Safina presidential aspirant, Jimi Wanjigi, has detailed his ongoing talks with Deputy President, William Ruto.
During a media roundtable at his Kwacha House office in Westlands Nairobi, the revered businessman cum politician stated that they are exploring a possible post-election coalition with Ruto.
Wanjigi, who is making his first stab at the presidency and elective politics, dismissed reports that the talks with the Deputy President were to culminate in a pre-election pact that would see him join Kenya Kwanza.
“Yes, we are talking. But we are not talking so that we are not on the ballot. We are talking about a post-election coalition,” Wanjigi made it clear, adding that he is not closing any doors for anyone who wants to support his bid.
“My party leader was also very clear on this. The party has also not given me the authority to discuss pre-election coalitions. And I am not about to compromise my position that I will be on the ballot.”
Wanjigi, who decamped from Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) after the party refused to hold presidential nominations, went ahead to clear the air on his presence at Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) National Delegates Conference (NDC).
“I attended Ruto’s NDC because he invited me. He called me himself and asked me to be a guest. Equally, he attended mine too. So my presence was not an endorsement of his candidature or an indication that I was going to drop my bid in his favour,” he added.
Asked whether he was a spoiler in the August 9 race, the outspoken businessman noted he was a presidential aspirant like any other and no one can be termed a spoiler.
“I am not a spoiler. And whose votes I’m I spoiling? The votes do not belong to politicians but to the people. If you view me as a spoiler, even Raila and Ruto are spoiling my votes,” he remarked.
“Everyone who is running is spoiling for someone because we are all looking for the same votes. Who owns the votes here? I am spoiling for all of them just like they are spoiling for me. I am looking for the votes for myself.”
Wanjigi maintained that his candidature is built on a solid economic agenda that his competitors do not understand or have very minimal knowledge of.
The business mogul further stated he will address the dwindling fortunes of the country, noting that one of his main agendas will be to ensure the country repays the outstanding debts and becomes self-sustaining.
“We had a state where the government was bankrupt but it does not want to admit it. Whoever is promising you that your life will change in 100 days is lying.
“I will start with proper accountability to see where the borrowed money went. In many cases the money borrowed cannot be accounted for. You cannot tell what it was used to do and what the returns are,” he stated.
“I want you to feel proud of the government. I do not think there is any Kenyan who is proud of the government. I will do what it takes to ensure that we bridge the inequality gap.”
He went ahead to reaffirm that his government will give a 100 per cent tax waiver to couples with six kids and above, noting that children are wealth.
{"preview_thumbnail":"/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/WCE6-24KeVk.jpg?itok=qLDM4c3T","video_url":"","settings":{"responsive":1,"width":"854","height":"480","autoplay":0},"settings_summary":["Embedded Video (Responsive)."]}
