[Jubilee leaders making speeches in Nairobi. President Uhuru Kenyatta has endorsed Mike Sonko for Nairobi governorship. Photo/Nation]
President Uhuru Kenyatta has broken his silence over Nairobi governorship race by endorsing Jubilee party flag bearer Mike Sonko, days after he was linked to Peter Kenneth’s bid.
Sonko, the current Nairobi senator, beat Kenneth in Jubilee nominations which the latter dismissed as ‘total sham’.
“Nairobi wants someone like Sonko who understands your problems. I trust in him and I plead with you to support him in August,” Kenyatta said.
“We need people who can transform the city and I think Sonko’s combination can do a wonderful job in Nairobi,” added Kenyatta in reference to Sonko’s running mate Polycarp Igathe.
Although he’d dismissed claims that he was behind Kenneth’s bid, pundits claimed that the President was in favour of the former Gatanga MP and 2013 presidential candidate.
Despite the defeat, Kenneth has since ditched Jubilee party and will run as an Independent alongside incumbent governor Evans Kidero.
With both Jubilee and ODM keen to win the Nairobi governorship, opposition leader Raila Odinga has promised to make physical presence in aid of Governor Kidero.