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Business tycoon Richard Ngatia emerges as favorite pick for the two parties in the gubernatorial race as race for various seats in the city gains momentum
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Jubilee Party plans to take control of Nairobi City County can now be revealed.
The ODM leader Raila Odinga and his handshake partner President Uhuru Kenyatta are believed to have agreed on how they want Nairobi to be managed and have asked their troops to formalize the line up before February next year.
The Times can authoritatively report that the gubernatorial ticket will be given to a candidate from the Jubilee party and specifically from the larger Mount Kenya.
The arrangement will see ODM field a candidate for the senate seat while negotiations on how to approach the Woman Representative seat are still ongoing.
In the gubernatorial race, the President and Mr. Odinga seem to have agreed to reserve it for a candidate with roots from Mount Kenya despite dissenting voices from a section of ODM leaders who feel that the parties should field a candidate from the Luhya community.
The odds within the corridors of power as established by The Times seem to favor business tycoon Richard Ngatia who is expected to launch his bid early next year.
Ngtaia got a unique and rare opportunity to address the mammoth crowd that attended the Azimio La Umoja rally at the Moi International Stadium where ODM leader Raila Odinga officially declared his presidential bid.
Mr Ngatia is president of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and it is understood that he has been actively been engaged in the handshake politics albeit behind the scenes.
His articulate and inspirational speech at Kasarani left many surprised by his mic skills while speculations begun on why he was given such an opportunity.
“ Nairobi mpo…Nairobi mpo… Leo si siku yangu lakini tutakuwa na mazungumzo hapo baadaye (Nairobi residents, today is not my day but we shall be having conversations later),” Ngatia said.
It has also been established that he has been playing a major advisory role in the running of the city ever since the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) was put in place.
However, Ngatia is not the only aspirant from the Mount Kenya region and he could face tough competition from business woman Agnes Ngure who also enjoys support from leaders across the political divide.
Those close to Ngure argue that she is also in god terms with President Uhuru and has also been pursuing support from the ODM leadership at the county and national level.
She was scheduled to unveil her candidature early this month but insiders say she postponed it to give room for deliberations.
Former Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru is also in the mix but their have been questions about his political capabilities to deliver the seat.
But this approach is not going to be accepted easily with a section of Luhya leaders in the county insisting that Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi who has declared interest in the seat should be the joint candidate.
Wanyonyi launched his bid in October this year and has received support from various leaders among them Mr. Odinga’s wife Mama Ida Odinga.
There are those who believed that it will be wrong if he is ignored and that the move could trigger revolt from a section of supporters.
“We can’t allow that unless we are convinced beyond any reasonable doubt about the position of the Luhya people who have been loyal to the ODM party and its leader,” said Solomon Magembe the Makina ward MCA.
Nominated MCA Mary Arivitsa also seems to agree but says she is confident that sufficient deliberations will be made.
“Politics revolves around interests and we know that the overriding interest is for our party leader to win the presidency but I agree that the Luhya factor should be given considerable weight,” she said.
The ODM Nairobi branch chairman George Aladwa who is also the Makadara MP has also said that he will launch his bid in January next year but observers indicate that he is targeting the deputy governor seat if he doesn’t defend his current post.
Aladwa told the Times that he will be comfortable with any working arrangement brought forward by the President and Mr. Odinga.
“ The target is to win the Presidency and take control of Nairobi and given that we are going to work with Jubilee, the decision by our party leaders is what we will represent to the people,”
Senate and Woman MP Seat
The senate seat could see ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna propel the joint ticket in what will be his second attempt. Sifuna lost to the current senator Jonhson Sakaja who is now eying the gubernatorial seat.
The Times has further established that young lawyer Faith Lukosi who had also declared interest for the ODM could be urged to try the Woman MP seat.
The Woman Representative race is likely to be subjected to joint nominations and this will see current office holder Esther Passaris,gender CAS Rachel Shebesh and Lukosi battling it out.
As it stands,the ODM/Jubilee plan could shape up with Governor seat: Richard Ngatia/ Agnes Kagure/ Dennis Waweru