Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu has expressed doubt over possiblity of President Uhuru Kenyatta supporting McDonald Mariga in Kibra by-election.
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday endorsed the retired footballer, adding that he was ready to support him in his quest to succeed Ken Okoth.
And on Thursday, Mr Wambugu insisted that he will only consider supporting Mariga's campaigns should President Uhuru Kenyatta personally go to Kibra.
His statement further exposes rifts within Jubilee, with a section of legislators allied to Uhuru claiming that DP William Ruto sponsored Mariga to wreck handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga.
"I am seeing TangaTanga fellows all over the place saying that Hon Maina Kamanda has defied his Party Leader Uhuru Kenyatta by supporting ODM’s Imran Okoth, rather than Jubilee’s Mariga. They could have a point.
"But I think it’s balanced out by the fact that Ruto has also been defying Uhuru on the handshake. Personally I will go to campaign for Mariga ... when Uhuru goes to Kibra. Meanwhile let Nairobi people wamenyanyane mpaka Kieleweke," he said.
Mr Kamanda, another fierce critic of DP William Ruto, on Thursday became the first to declare support for ODM candidate Imran Okoth, despite Uhuru openly backing Mariga.
“I am here in my personal capacity...The Handshake brought us harmony and peace in the country.. As Jubilee we have a candidate but as a person, I will be with the ODM candidate…I am here to stand with the candidate nominated by ODM Imran Okoth” the MP said as quoted in a tweet by Citizen TV.
Ever since 2018, President Uhuru Kenyatta has never participated in a by-election to campaign for a Jubilee candidate. DP Ruto has been sponsoring Jubilee candidates.