The Jubilee Party is in the progress of having Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko impeached and replaced with another individual, it has emerged.
This comes amid indications that the party is regretting having the embattled county boss in the seat, according to party Secretary General Raphael Tuju's remarks on Sunday.
In an interview with the Standard, he said that the party had no other option but to pick Sonko as its candidate in the 2017 polls, judging by the pressure from voters and his (Sonko) popularity.
“We tried our best to ensure the choice we took was the choice of the people. If we did anything else, we’d be accused of imposing a candidate on the electorate," he said.
The party is now looking at possible replacements, including Sonko's deputy Polycarp Igathe, who resigned last year and Peter Kenneth, who battled Sonko in the race.
The other bet is former Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru. However, the party is unsure about Igathe's abilities to handle the City Hall chaos and finds him not tough enough.
Former Jubilee Vice Chair David Murathe said that the argument about bringing Igathe back is not far fetched, and can be brought back even though he has since joined the private sector.
“It is not impossible. Even in West Pokot, Deputy Governor Nicholas Atudonyang, a US-based Neurosurgeon, has been working from America without a salary. There is nothing different with Nairobi even if Igathe took a job in the private sector,” he said.
Sonko's troubles seem to be worsening after his arrest and arraignment in over graft-related charges, after which the court barred him from accessing his offices at City Hall.
On Saturday, Members of Nairobi County Assembly (MCAs) resolved to impeach him, citing the crisis being witnessed in the county, given that he doesn't have a deputy currently.