President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President Dr William Ruto on Wednesday met Jubilee Party candidate for the forthcoming Kibra Constituency by-election MacDonald Mariga at State House, Nairobi.
The president assured Mariga of his support after he threw his hat in the ring.
"The President wished Mr Mariga, who was accompanied by Jubilee Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju, success in the contest and assured him of his full backing,” State confirmed.
National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale and Jubilee Party Chief Whip Benjamin Washiali were also present. The meeting came after Mariga was cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to contest for the seat.
The Wafula Chebukati-led commission had rejected Mariga’s nominations after it emerged that is name was nowhere to be found in the voters’ register. Mariga opted to file an application at the IEBC Tribunal before he was cleared to contest for the position.
The Jubilee candidate is now set to lock horns with Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Imran Okoth and Amani National Congress (ANC) candidate Edwin Owalo. Mariga is confident that he will emerge victorious in the contest when that time comes.
He has also denied that he is Deputy President’s project. He has affirmed that he is out to serve the people of Kibra.