Bishop Wanjiru to fly UDA ticket in city gubernatorial race
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has picked Bishop Margaret Wanjiru to fly the party's flag in the Nairobi gubernatorial by-election.
The newly unveiled party that is associated with allies of Deputy President William Ruto made the announcement in Nairobi on Friday.
UDA chair Johnson Muthama handed the ticket to Bishop Wanjiru, who said she is confident she will defeat her challengers.
At the function, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen said, "We do not fear competition. We have a candidate in Margaret Wanjiru. We win or we lose. That is a part of democracy."
The politicians also spoke about the Nairobi governor by-election, accusing the government and its opposition partner of meddling with a pending court case.
“It seems our opponents are already jittery about a duel with Margaret Wanjiru. That is why they’re bringing all these shenanigans,” said Mr Murkomen.
“Stop misusing the courts and bending the rules midway, and compete with us on a level field. What we’re witnessing is constitutionally, morally and legally wrong, and pedestrian,” he said.
Big plans
The party’s other candidates include Alex Lanya (Matungu Constituency), Antony Wachira (London Ward, Nakuru), Jonathan Warothe (Hells Gate Ward (Nakuru) and Moses Nyakeramba for the Kiamakoma Ward ( Kisii).
These are the first contestants since the party was rebranded from People’s Democratic Party (PDR). The logo remains a wheelbarrow.
Former PDR chair Abdi Noor handed the chairmanship over to Mr Muthama before the unveiling of the candidates.
The team spoke of a people-friendly agenda, the main one being to assist the downtrodden and ensure that boda-boda operators, fishermen, grocers and other low income earners rise economically, beginning with wheelbarrows and then progressing to motorcycles, cars and choppers, just like DP Ruto.
The unveiling of the contestants sets the stage for a bruising battle with Jubilee, which the DP incidentally still deputises, the ODM party led by Mr Raila Odinga and Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress, among others.
The party is yet to settle on a candidate for the Machakos Senatorial by-election but said it will do so soon and then embark on campaigns for all its contestants, a plan members described as a winning formula.
Mr Muthama also said the party will soon elect leaders at all levels.
“I assure you that UDA will hold elections that will involve every Kenyan. We don't want self-appointed office bearers,” he said.
