President Uhuru Kenyatta has no other option but to back football star McDonald Mariga's bid for the Kibra parliamentary race, political analyst Ambrose Weda has said.
The Head of State a week ago endorsed Mariga's candidature, ending his silence following the nomination of the footballer by the Jubilee party.
Speaking on Wednesday, Weda said Uhuru has no other option but to stand with the candidate representing the party he leads, and cannot use the handshake as an excuse to keep off.
“The president has a party, Mariga's endorsement by Jubilee party left him with no choice but to support the candidate regardless of the handshake," he said.
The High Court advocate made the remarks on KBC English Service's The Big Conversation.
He challenged Kibra voters to select their leader on the basis of their leadership ability and not the party on whose ticket they are riding.
“Kibra residents should elect leaders on the basis of how best they can serve not in regards to their parties or status," he added.
The ODM party has fronted Imran Okoth, as it seeks to retain a seat initially left by Imran's brother Ken Okoth, in a region that has been under its leadership for many years.
Its worth noting that Raila also represented the region in Parliament, under the larger Lang'ata constituency, from 1992 to 2013, when Kibra was hived off as per the 2010 constitution.