Nairobi Governor candidate, Peter Kenneth. [Photo/the-star.co.ke]
Before the Jubilee Party gubernatorial nominations that saw Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko floor Peter Kenneth, President Uhuru Kenyatta appeared to be backing the latter for the ticket.
The President was even quoted during his tour of Murang'a County, asking Nairobi residents to support Kenneth's bid.
Uhuru's recent remarks, however, have left the former Gatanga Member of Parliament in the cold.
The Jubilee Party leader has told Kenneth, who is vying as an independent candidate, to "leave the governor seat" for Sonko, since he lost in the primaries.
Kenneth, who was a 2013 presidential candidate, disputed the nomination results, accusing the Senator of rigging.
“I say to Peter, the people of Nairobi wanted Sonko. Let him get on with the job,” said Uhuru, during a series of rallies in Nairobi County.
He added, "Peter Kenneth you should come and let us work together, we will give you a job. Leave the city to Senator Mike Sonko."
However, Kenneth has come out strongly and defended his right to be on the ballot and fighting off accusations that he wanted to divide Jubilee votes.
During one of his campaign tours, he asked Uhuru to let Nairobi residents decide their next governor.
“I am not a project and I have not been planted by anyone. I was in Jubilee Party about a month ago and we had a sham nomination and that is why I left because I still had a vision for Nairobi,” said Kenneth, as quoted by The Standard.
He added, “If anything, the intention is to have Evans Kidero out of office because he has failed Nairobians for the past four years.”
The former MP said he will not step down for anybody.