Nominated MP Maina Kamanda sought President Uhuru Kenyatta's audience in vain on Wednesday, an aide to Deputy President William Ruto has claimed.
According to the senior aide, formally with NIS, Mr Kamanda was infuriated when he saw Uhuru formally endorsing McDonald Mariga for Kibra by-election.
Mr Kamanda, the aide claims, stormed State House but was not allowed to immediately meet the President, whom he was allegedly told was busy.
"The truth is, he went to State House late in the evening and wanted to meet the President. He was told the President would not see him," he claimed.
"When he returned in the morning, he was again told to book an appointment with State House comptroller. He gave up," added the aide.
Kamanda's predicaments, the aide claims, were precipitated by Uhuru's surprise decision to back Mariga, whom the Kieleweke faction of Jubilee is against.
According to him, President Uhuru Kenyatta had asked Dr Ruto, who is believed to be behind Mariga's candidature, to present him at State House.
"The DP did not force Uhuru to support Mariga. The president called him over new ambassadors, then brought up the Mariga issue. Ruto asked him to schedule the meeting on Wednesday," he said.
And on Thursday, nominated MP Maina Kamanda, who leads pro-Uhuru's Kieleweke team, visited ODM leader Raila Odinga, where he insisted that he will support Mr Okoth.
During the press conference, the veteran Nairobi politician said his decision to back Mr Okoth was personal, adding that he believes Kibra is an ODM stronghold.
“Kibra is the stronghold of ODM. We have field a candidate as Jubilee, the candidate was put there by Jubilee, but as a person, I will be with the [candidate] that has been nominated by ODM,” Mr Kamanda said.
But a number of Mr Odinga's aides seemingly suggest that Kamanda was under instructions from Uhuru, a move that could raise further questions on Uhuru's commitment towards Mariga's candidature.
Spokesman Dennis Onyango suggestively said Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga's Handshake could partner in many Elections to come.
"What’s happening is that Handshake has a candidate in Kibra. It will have in future elections too," he said.
"He was not here by chance nor was it on his own volition but as a representative of President Kenyatta. No wonder he referred to Mr. Imran Okoth as handshake candidate," added another aide, Philip Nyamai.
The former Starehe MP is however a close ally of President Uhuru Kenyatta. When he lost Jubilee nominations to musician Charles Njaguar, Uhuru ordered for his nomination to Parliament.