Nairobi Gubernatorial aspirant on Jubilee ticket Peter Kenneth. He rejected an offer to withdraw his candidature in favour of Mike Sonko. [ Photo: the-star.co.ke]
State House offered Nairobi Jubilee governor hopeful, Peter Kenneth, a cabinet position to step down for Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko.The former Gatanga MP declined a proposal to take charge of the Infrastructure Development docket, instead choosing to contest for Jubilee nomination ticket for Nairobi governorship. According to the Star, Kenneth last Tuesday met President Uhuru Kenyatta’s handlers at State House, Nairobi, where they offered him the job.Kenneth and the operatives failed to reach an agreement after he insisted that he would only take up a ministerial position as Finance Cabinet Secretary. The Finance docket is currently held by Henry Rotich, an ally of Deputy President William Ruto.However, speaking to Kameme TV recently Kenneth denied ever receiving proposals from State House.Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV a month ago, President Kenyatta openly said he was willing to mediate between Sonko and Kenneth to ensure one candidate takes on the incumbent Governor Evans Kidero.Kenneth lost to Sonko in the hotly contested Nairobi Jubilee primaries conducted last week. Sonko garnered 138,185 against Kenneth’s 62,504. Bishop Margaret Wanjiru was third with 7,654 votes.The former presidential candidate has, however, refused to concede defeat and hinted at running as an independent candidate in the August general elections.