Deputy President William Ruto has urged Kibra residents to support former Harambee Stars forward McDonald Mariga in the upcoming by-election.

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In a tweet on Tuesday, the DP promised to ensure Kibra is among the beneficiaries of the government's Big 4 Agenda.

He called on leaders from Kibra to work with the government to ensure residents get decent and affordable housing.

"Kibra and other informal settlements in Nairobi will be among the major beneficiaries of the government’s housing plan under the Big Four Agenda. It is therefore incumbent upon leaders from the area to ensure this affordable and decent shelter dream for every Kenyan is realised," the deputy president tweeted.

The tweet was accompanied by photos of the DP speaking to Kibra locals accompanied by Mariga at Ruto's Karen residence.

In a bid to persuade locals to vote for the former footballer, the deputy president has been hosting locals at his Karen home and selling them the agenda of the Jubilee candidate.

Mariga has come under blistering criticism for allegedly being used to advance the agenda of the DP, a charge that he has strongly rebuffed.

He has maintained that he made the decision to run on his own and not because he has been pressured to do so.