Raila Odinga party ODM pulls out of the Nairobi Governorship race, awaits Jubilee Handshake Candidate

President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM chief Raila Odinga at BOMAS. File

 

ODM pulls out of the February 18 Nairobi governorship mini-poll. The move comes after the party leadership agreed to field a " handshake" joint candidate ahead of the polls.


The seat belongs to Jubilee. ODM said they are waiting for the two names submitted to the IEBC by Jubilee party to reach consensus before campaigns start.


On Monday, the parties submitted two names each to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of the aspirants freed to contest their respective primaries.


Jubilee cleared former Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru, who doubles to be the Building Bridges Initiative co-chairman, and Ms Agnes Kagure to vie for the seat left vacant following the impeachment of the ruling party’s Mike Sonko.


Jubilee Secretary-General Raphael Tuju confirmed the submission of the two names to the IEBC.


“We have cleared two candidates - Agnes Kagure and Dennis Waweru and submitted their names to the IEBC,” Mr Tuju said.


ODM National Elections Board (NEB) chairperson, Mrs Catherine Mumma, said the board had cleared ODM Women League president, Ms Beth Syengo, and former Homa Bay Governor candidate Mr Sam Wakiaga, to vie for the seat.

“We forwarded the names to the party to quickly decide whether we can get the candidates to agree between themselves,” she said.


" After long talks, we decided to withdraw from the race as they did to Msambweni. We are waiting for Jubilee Party to give us a Candidate ahead of the mini-polls, " she added.