ODM leader Raila Odinga and Nairobi governor Evans Kidero at a past event. PHOTO/rao.co.ke
ODM party leader Raila Odinga has pledged to help Nairobi governor Evans Kidero retain his seat in the forthcoming August 8 general elections.
Raila said he will use his experience in the city politics to ensure the incumbent governor defends his seat successfully.
“Nairobi is an Opposition stronghold. We want to capture at least 13 out of the 17 constituencies and 53 out of the 85 wards in the city. I have been a legislator in Nairobi for 20 years and I know the dynamics. I will ensure we emerge victorious,” Raila was quoted by The Standard on Friday during a rally in Nairobi’s Mathare estate.
Nairobi is Kenya’s face to the world and both Jubilee and the Opposition coalitions are struggling to control it.
Both President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto have pledged to ensure Jubilee topples Kidero and wins most MP and MCA seats in the capital.
“Jubilee must win the Nairobi Governor’s seat come August so as to change the face of the country’s capital which has been run down by the Opposition,” said Uhuru during a recent rally in Nairobi.
The ruling coalition is yet to decide who between Nairobi senator Mike Sonko and former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth will be it’s flag bearer to contest against ODM’s Kidero.
The two Jubilee rival camps have ruled out a consensus and have dared each other for a duel during the party’s nomination exercise slated for mid-April.
A poll conducted a week ago showed a majority of Nairobi County's illegible voters would re-elect Kidero as governor for the second term.
The findings by Infotrack placed Governor Kidero at the top position with 35.3 per cent. His closest challenger , Sonko was supported by 23 per cent of the voters in Nairobi.
2013 presidential candidate Peter Kenneth was placed third in the race with 20.2 per cent.