NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 20 – The entry of Polycarp Igathe into the Nairobi’s Governor’s race has turned tables and set candidates who started early campaigns back to the drawing board.
Reports that Igathe has the backing of the top Jubilee leadership has rattled Richard Ngatia, incumbent Governor Anne Kananu and businesswoman Agnes Kagure who are also seeking the ruling party’s nomination ticket.
Igathe who is the current Chief Commercial Officer of the Equity Group Holdings Limited, made his entry into politics in 2017, when he deputized former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko.
He however resigned on January 31 2018 saying he had failed to earn the trust of the Governor.
“I am back and ready to serve,” Igathe said on an NTV interview on Tuesday night, “I fully support Raila Odinga and am committed to the Azimio la Umoja cause.”
Igathe had earlier served as the Vice President in charge of Sales and Marketing in Vivo Energy Africa.
Jubilee Party Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni last week told Capital FM News that Igathe had been cleared by the party ahead of the primaries.
“Igathe is in the Nairobi Governors race. He has paid his nomination fees and also done everything he is required to vie for the seat,” stated Kioni.
Kioni indicated that several Nairobi Governor aspirants had been cleared including the Kananu, Kagure and Ngatia.
Reports indicate that the Jubilee party is planning to hand Igathe a ticket and convince Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi of ODM to drop his bid and become his Deputy.
On the other hand, Deputy President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza has already unveiled Senator Johnson Sakaja as its candidate for the Nairobi’s Governor’s seat.
