Businessman Jimnah Mbaru has been cleared to contest the Nairobi Governor post on the Alliance Party of Kenya (APK) ticket.
Mr Mbaru was given the go ahead by the electoral commission to vie in the March 4 polls Friday and named Ahmed Ibrahim ‘Johnny’ as his running mate.
He will fight it out with The National Alliance (TNA) candidate Ferdinand Waiititu and Orange Democratic Movement’s Evan Kidero.
Mr Mbaru defected to Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi’s APK party after he disputed the TNA primaries in which Mr Waititu was declared winner.
“If you keep looking behind, you will never reach where you are going,” Mr Mbaru said in response to why he ditched TNA.
“Right now, we are celebrating the IEBC nomination and moving forward.”
Mr Mbaru said he will embark on a “radical approach to change the city of Nairobi” using a speedy and efficient programme to address real problems affecting Nairobi “which by implication affects the whole country”.
He said the immediate problems facing Nairobi residents include urban poverty, insecurity and unemployment.
Mr Mbaru said he will base his approach on three pillars.
Firstly, he will move to create opportunity for city residents by turning Nairobi into Africa’s business capital. His second pillar would be to double the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nairobi.
Thirdly, he will address insecurity.
Mr Mbaru said he will create a fund that will enable women and youth to borrow against it and start their own businesses.
The APK candidate promised that his campaigns will be issue-based and he will not dwell on attacking opponents.
Source:nation.co.ke
