Nairobi governor aspirant Peter Kenneth. [Photo/nairobiwire]
The most awaited political duel in party primaries has to be between Nairobi governor aspirants Peter Kenneth and Senator Mike Sonko.
The two will battle it out on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 in the Jubilee Party primaries.
The race for the ticket has been characterised by name calling and public spats by the two leading aspirants.
Senator Sonko has been categorical that he cannot work with Kenneth, who unsuccessfully vied for the presidency in 2013.
Last week, reports emerged that Sonko had been offered a Cabinet Secretary post by President Uhuru Kenyatta so as to abandon his ambitions of becoming Nairobi’s second governor.
Sonko dismissed the claims, saying the rumours were mere propaganda by his opponents to confuse his supporters.
“I would therefore not withdraw in favour of a candidate who is a "failure" and who would not reclaim Nairobi City County from the opposition. We can't replace Kidero with another Kidero,” Sonko said on Friday.
Similar reports came to the fore that Kenneth had been asked to step down for the Senator, and be rewarded with a Cabinet post if Jubilee retains power after the August general election.
Speaking on Citizen TV on Sunday evening, the former Gatanga Member of Parliament refuted the claims, saying he had not received such an offer to step down.
“I am not aware of such an offer to step down for anybody. I have good plans for Nairobi and I would like to see those plans implemented, that is why I am gunning for the governor position,” he said.
Kenneth said he was focused on clinching the Jubilee ticket to vie against Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero of ODM come August 8.
He said he was willing to work with anyone who clinches the ticket for Nairobi governor.
He exuded confidence in trouncing his opponents in the Wednesday nominations.
“In a free and fair contest, I am going to win,” he said