Rivals roll up sleeves ahead of rulings on by-elections

By Stephen Makabila     

The political fireworks expected during the Mathare constituency campaigns ahead of the June 3 by-election are now on hold,  pending a Supreme Court decision on April 29.

The Mathare scenario is similar to the situation in Meru and Migori counties, where rising political tempos for gubernatorial contests are now dependant on the court’s verdict in the coming days.

If the Supreme Court overturns what the Court of Appeal ruled in Mathare constituency’s  case, then serving MP George Mike Wanjohi, who has been given a three week reprieve, will serve his full term.

But if the court upholds the Court of Appeal ruling, then it will be a battle royale in Mathare and by extension Nairobi County on who  between rival TNA (Jubilee coalition) and ODM (Cord-coalition ) is in control of city politics.

Currently, Cord  which is at the apex of city politics with Governor Evans Kidero from the coalition leading the county government, has only 7 MPs out of the 17 MPs in the city.

Jubilee, which won the Senatorial seat through Mike Sonko and County Women MP through Rachael Shebesh, boasts of more constituencies under its representation, at 10.

Starehe MP Maina Kamanda told The Standard on Sunday that irrespective of the Supreme Court ruling, Mathare belongs to Jubilee. “If its ruled on April 29 that there will be no by-election, then we retain the seat, if we go for the by-election, we will still win. As Jubilee, we are on top of Nairobi politics,” said Kamanda.

Kamanda said with more parliamentary seats, Senate and Women representative seat, Jubilee was the dominant force in city politics.

But former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo, now angling to become ODM National Organising Secretary, says ODM and CORD will put up one of the strongest fights ever if the by-election is held.

The brigade

“We are ready for them (Jubilee). We have a committee chaired by Governor Kidero, former Nairobi Mayor and ODM Nairobi chairman George Aladwa, myself and Mr Elius Otieno. We are set for campaigns just incase the Supreme court upholds nullification of  Wanjohi’s election on April 29,” Ndolo told The Standard on Sunday. Before the uncertainty created by the Supreme Court decision to give Wanjohi three more weeks, CORD and Jubilee were lining up troops for the contest.

While CORD had tasked Kidero, former mayor George Aladwa and Ndolo  to head the campaigns,  Jubilee had identified Kamanda and Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko to lead its brigade.

On flagbearers, CORD had already settled on Steve Kariuki, who has been behind the petition to carry its flag. The announcement was  made a week ago by CORD-CO-Principal and Senate Minority leader Moses Wetangula.

“Kariuki is popular. He won but was only denied the ticket. We want to ensure he reclaims what belongs to him if at all there will be repeat election,”  added Ndolo.

In going for Kariuki, Wetangula  had pointed out the decision was made so as to maximise on the coalition’s strength as part of its strategy to win the seat formally occupied by TNA’s George Wanjohi.

Wetangula, in company of Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama, Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba and former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo, said constituent parties within the coalition had agreed to set aside their interests for the good of the coalition and vowed to vigorously campaign for Kariuki.