Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Director of Elections Junet Mohamed has hit out at those criticising President Uhuru Kenyatta for endorsing Kibra parliamentary aspirant McDonald Mariga who is vying on Jubilee Party ticket.
Uhuru on Wednesday met Mariga at State House, Nairobi and wished him success in the contest and assured him of his full backing.
The move has been criticised by some politicians who argue Uhuru should have kept off Kibra politics for the sake of his handshake with ODM leader Raila Odinga.
The politicians opine that Kibra is Raila's political stronghold and President Uhuru should not have attempted to wrestle it from him.
ODM has fielded Imran Okoth, the brother of former Kibra MP the late Ken Okoth who succumbed to cancer in June.
However, Junet has defended the President saying he was the still the leader of the ruling party and it was his duty to offer guidance in every political competition.
“For a fact, Uhuru is the party leader of Jubilee and Raila of ODM and they have a right to make decisions on behalf of their parties separately," he said on Friday.
The Suna East MP said the handshake and the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), which is a brainchild of Uhuru and Raila, will still remain intact despite the Kibra contest.
“They did not relinquish their positions after the ‘handshake’ or forming the BBI. So the endorsement has very little impact both on the BBI and handshake. It is inconsequential," stated Junet, who is also the National Assembly Minority Whip.