The Jubilee Party has nominated footballer McDonald Mariga as its candidate for the Kibra Parliamentary by-election.
Former State House Digital Director Dennis Itumbi has wished him well as he enters the race for the seat. He exuded confidence that Mariga can do it as he marshals voters behind his bid.
"MaCdonald Mariga, that is @MarigaOfficial is Jubilee's candidate for the Kibra by-election! I wish him well in the campaigns," he tweeted.
Mariga presented his papers at the Jubilee Party headquarters at Pangani, Nairobi on Monday before he was given the go-ahead to contest for the seat.
The name of the footballer has been presented to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) but secretary-general Raphael Tuju recalled him to give the party more time to consult over his candidature.
Mariga joins a list of 19 other candidates who have already expressed their interest in the contest following the demise of Ken Okoth. Mariga has affirmed that he is the right man to take over from Okoth after he succumbed to cancer.
He is expected to pitch tents in different parts of the constituency to beat the candidate the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) will front for the seat when that time comes.
The Kibra Constituency is considered a stronghold of Jubilee hence Mariga has a hard nut to crack when that time comes. The footballer turned politician has denied claims that he is not a project of Deputy President William Ruto.
“I am not a project of anyone and I will support whoever wins since I was born and raised in Kibra,” Mariga told journalists outside the party offices.