UHURUTO’S NEW PLAN TO FRUSTRATE ODM

The Jubilee party has called on Kenyans interested to vie for the Nairobi governor’s position to submit their applications for the party’s ticket.

Political parties intending to participate in the by-election were directed to submit the names of the persons contesting in party primaries and the dates of the nominations on or before Monday, December 28.

This is a strong signal that the ruling party will not be letting go of the powerful seat without a fight. In previous by elections, Jubilee and ODM have been forfeiting fielding candidates in favour of each other.

Eyes are now on ODM as political pundits wait to see whether the opposition will field a candidate in for the Nairobi Governor’s seat.

The 9-page application document contains among other documents, letters of resignation from other parties and a CRB clearance certificate.

This follows the IEBC’s notice of a by-elections for the governor’s positions to be held on 18th February 2021.

The Senate on Thursday, December 17 upheld the impeachment of the former Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko.

IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati noted that the campaign period for Nairobi’s top seat will run between January 18, 2021, and February 15, 2021.

The Nairobi gubernatorial aspirants who hold a public office were handed a seven-day window that expires on Monday to resign from their position.

Political parties intending to field candidates in the by-election will have up to January 11, 2021, to submit the list of the nominees after resolving all intra-party disputes arising from the primaries.

The gazette notice also stated that independent candidates must not have been members of any political party at least three months before the date of the by-election.

Independent candidates were also handed a deadline of Monday, December 28 to submit their names and symbols they intend to use during the mini-poll.

Disputes relating to or arising from nominations shall be determined within 10 days of the lodging of the dispute with IEBC and in any event not later than January 28, 2021.

Candidates tipped to replace Sonko include, former Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru, 2013 presidential candidate Peter Kenneth, and lawyer Miguna Miguna.

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 the Jubilee ticket as Kenyatta and ODM are preparing to front a joint candidate.

Suba East MP Junet Mohamed confirmed that Jubilee and ODM have not yet met to discuss how to approach the by-election. However, ODM is reported to be ready to support a Jubilee candidate as a way of returning a favor 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 has allegedly been promised to take the Deputy Governor position as Jubilee seeks to retain the Governor seat.

Sourced from Kenyans.co.ke