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Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi has found himself in a precarious political situation after it emerged he may not be the Azimio La Umoja candidate for Nairobi gubernatorial race come 2022.
Wanyonyi who declared his ambition for the Nairobi seat in October is facing stiff competition from the President of the Kenya Chambers of Commerce and Industry Richard Ngatia.
Ngatia who is a heavyweight in the corridors of power is expected to officially launch his bid in January,2022. An insider within Raila Odinga’s ODM party told revealed to TaarifaNews ,that the decision by the party’s Secretary General Edwin Sifuna to declare interest in the Nairobi senate seats complicates the Azimio la Umoja political matrix in the city and could be an indicator that the party is not keen on fielding a candidate.
” Both Tim and Sifuna come from Western Kenya and Bungoma to be precise.Azimio la Umoja spirit dictates that we must do some balancing act and one would have expected that perhaps the SG would have gone for another seat,” an ODM leader who sought anonymity over the matter said.
He said that the move by Sifuna is a clear signal to Wanyonyi that he could be implored to defend his Westlands seat.
Last week, TaarifaNews reported that Mr.Odinga is most likely going to allow a candidate from Mount Kenya to fly the Azimio la Umoja ticket for Nairobi.
Odinga is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to galvanise the Kikuyu votes in Nairobi.
During his Azimio la Umoja ceremony in Nairobi, Raila gave Mr Ngatia an opportunity to speak,raising eyebrows among political observers in the city.
Ngatia told TopNewskenya.co.ke news that he is more than ready to fly the Azimio la umoja ticket and change the city interms of developments.
” I have said that I am ready for the task and ready to be the Azimio la Umoja candidate for Nairobi’,Ngatia said
Ngatia further said that, his campaigns will be based on development and growth of the City economy and particularly the GDP,and has urged the Nairobi residents to be patient and pray for him ahead of general elections.
TaarifaNews further understands that deliberations are ongoing between ODM and Jubilee leaders on how to settle the Nairobi issue which has been termed as a do or fie affair for Raila Odinga.
On Raila’s intray is the need to protect the Luhya community voting base and balancing it with the growing desire to lure the kikuyu vote in Nairobi.
Already Ngatia has received amajor support by asection of City Mcas across political divide ,with most of them opting for Ngatia than Wanyonyi.
“As Nairobi Mcas we are fully behind Ngatia,will abide by our party leaders directives,and from what we are seeing, Ngatia is the next Nairobi Governor, “an Mca who sort anonymity told TaarifaNews.
ODM party chairman Nairobi branch George Aladwa has so far opposed Wanyonyis candidature,Saying luhyas in Nairobi will only vote depending on Railas directives,indicating that Luhyas might vote in Ngatia for the Cityhall Job.