Ex- Nairobi governor Mike Sonko has now endorsed his former deputy Polycarp Igathe for the gubernatorial seat under the Azimio la Umoja Kenya Kwanza Coalition.
Speaking during the official Wiper Party unveiling ceremony of Philip Kaloki who was fronted as Igathe's running mate, Sonko made it clear that he is ready to throw his weight behind the banker-cum politician.
Sonko who made his political comeback after the Wiper party issued him a direct ticket to vie for Mombasa gubernatorial seat, further offered to capitalise on his popularity in the city to campaign for Igathe.
"Igathe you have my support. You can call me anytime we hit the ground running in Nairobi," Sonko stated.
His decision to endorse Igathe comes just days after the corporate honcho opened up on their relationship. Igathe explained that they enjoy a cordial relationship but only tend to differ on some ideologies.
"Sonko is my friend, we are not enemies. We disagreed on principles. He knows he was misled by a few of his friends," he stated during an interview on TV47.
He added," When I resigned, I left him in power, next I saw him in a helicopter being arrested. It was a harrowing experience. I would never wish that even to my enemy."
In the 2017 general election, Sonko picked Igathe as his running mate under the Jubilee Party ticket. Their candidacy went on to clinch the Nairobi seat.
However, their chemistry did not last. Barely six months after taking office, Igathe tendered his resignation letter regretting having been unable to win the trust of his boss, and went back to the corporate world.
The position remained vacant until December 2020 when Sonko was impeached by the Nairobi County Assembly and the decision upheld by the Senate.
Anne Kananu, who Sonko had opposed her selection, would be sworn in as Nairobi Deputy Governor positioning herself as Sonko's City Hall.
After the drama and fallout, Igathe made headlines when he announced his bid to reclaim the Nairobi seat under a new lineup with Kaloki deputising him.
Through several media interviews, he dispelled reports that he was a political project.
"I am a project of Nairobi residents. I have been approached by people everywhere asking me to go for this office. That is why we erected billboards across the city asking ‘Nairobi mnataka nini’ (Nairobians, what do you want). This is a subject we have discussed for 21 days. Above all, I am a project of God," Igathe made it clear.
