Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko has dismissed reports that he accepted to be Nairobi governor hopeful Peter Kenneth’s running mate in the August poll.
The Sunday Standard reported that there were plans by the Jubilee fraternity to urge Sonko to be the former Gatanga MP’s running mate.
But Sonko said the report was the “joke of the year” and claimed it was influenced by “malicious” politicians.
“I wish to urge our supporters in Team Nairobi and Jubilee Party members to ignore such propaganda aimed at confusing voters,” he said via Facebook on Monday.
The Senator said no such arrangement has been reached and that he was “fully prepared” to face any opponent during nominations.
But he noted: “I swear and undertake to support whoever the party members will nominate to fly the Jubilee gubernatorial flag.”
Sonko further asked aspirants to concede defeat and back whoever will win the nominations.
“Those invoking the name of President Uhuru Kenyatta for selfish political gain must stop forthwith,” he said.
“Let us refrain from making reckless statements, claiming to have the blessings of the President.”
Kenneth and Sonko are said to have met on Friday to discuss the possibility of joining forces ahead of the August 8 general election.
The two supposedly met at an undisclosed location near Nyeri.
Sources said Kenneth asked Sonko for his support and that the Senator said he was willing to consider this, especially if the President asked him toquit the race.
The Nairobi county chief race has resulted in the formation of two factions.
Sonko’s team includes Nominated MP Johnson Sakaja, Margaret Wanjiru (former Starehe) and Dennis Waweru (Dagoretti South).
Those supporting Kenneth, who is from Murang’a county, include Nominated Senator Beatrice Elachi and MPs Rachel Shebesh (woman representative), Maina Kamanda (Starehe) and James Gakuya (Embakasi North).
Sonko has severely criticised Kenneth and has even opposed the entry of “foreigners to the governor race.”
He said nobody will be pushed from outside the county to confuse the people, and later demanded an apology from the former Gatanga legislator, over the case Uhuru had at the ICC.
-the-star.co.ke
