Deputy President William Ruto badly needs to have Jubilee Party McDonald Mariga secure a win in the Kibra by-election, political analyst Javas Bigambo has said.
The DP has been involved in Mariga's campaigns and is expected to hold a rally in the constituency on Sunday to mark the end of the campaigns ahead of the November 7 mini poll.
In a rally held at Lindi Grounds on Saturday, last week, Ruto promised locals goodies such as houses, jobs and a training college should they pick Mariga as their next MP.
Bigambo opined that the DP needs a win to appear to be making progress in city politics, adding that he wants to be seen to be gaining strength in Nairobi politics.
“For Ruto, a victory for Mariga will be a political statement that his influence on Nairobi politics is becoming strong and visible,” he said as quoted by the Standard on Saturday.
The battle for the Kibra seat has been viewed as one between Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga, whose party is seeking to retain the seat which has for years been represented by its members.
ODM has picked Imran Okoth to be the party's flagbearer in the race. Imran is the brother of former Kibra MP Ken Okoth who succumbed to cancer in July.
Pundits have observed that the DP is using the race to weigh himself ahead of the 2022 polls, where he will be vying for the presidential seat.