Jubilee, NASA to finally agree on EALA candidates

Former MP Oburu Oginga

 

MPs will this afternoon elect nine representatives to the East African Legislative Assembly ahead of their swearing in tomorrow in Arusha, Tanzania.

Parliament corridors and city hotels were yesterday a hive of activity as candidates lobbied MPs.

The Standard has reliably learnt that the National Super Alliance (NASA) and Jubilee were plotting a trade-in to ensure all their front-runners sail through in the Senate and National Assembly.

Inside sources confided that Jubilee had settled on former MPs Mpuru Aburi, Simon Mbugua, and Mohammed Nooru and Florence Jematiah and Irene Masit, while NASA has former MPs Oburu Odinga and Fatuma Ali, Kennedy Musyoka, and Norman Magaya.

“I am still on a vote hunt. I have campaigned among the legislators and continue to do so until the last vote is cast. The response is positive and quite encouraging,” affirmed Mr Mbugua.

Political divide

He added: ” I have reached out to Jubilee, NASA, and independent MPs."

Similarly, former Wajir County MP Fatuma Ali stepped up her campaigns.

She said: “I have been assured of the vote and I relate well with both sides of the political divide.”

Yesterday every table at the Parliamentary lounge had candidates’ brochures’ detailing their manifesto even as they mingled with MPs.

One of the candidate got a rude shock when he found his competitors sharing the leaflets and questioned if it was important, only to also print some.

“We met yesterday to deliberate on the list ahead of the vote. The lobbying is still on. We have yet to settle on our four favourites,” said National Assembly Minority Leader John Mbadi.