President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga will name their joint candidate for Nairobi governor’s race as the two leaders move to stamp authority in city politics.
Talks to settle on the winning pair are being held at the highest levels and multiple sources have intimated to the Star that the handshake partners will make public their preferred pair on Wednesday.
“Those negotiations are happening at the highest level between the two principals but the unveiling of the candidate will be on Wednesday,” a highly placed source said.
ODM, which withdrew from the February 18 by-election even after receiving applications from two hopefuls, is said to be eyeing the deputy governor slot in a new working arrangement with Uhuru’s Jubilee Party.
Already, Jubilee has submitted the names of former Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru and businesswoman Agnes Kagure.
ODM received requests from Women’s League chairperson Beth Syengo and former Homa Bay governor aspirant Sam Wakiaga.
The Raila-led party, however, did not submit the names of its aspirants and announced it will back the Jubilee candidate in the February 18 poll.
The Star was on Monday reliably informed that ODM is seriously considering fielding its secretary-general Edwin Sifuna to be a running mate to the Jubilee candidate.
Raila, during an interview with a local television station last week, was categorical that ODM and Jubilee will give a winning pair.
According to inside sources, having Sifuna on the ballot will appeal to the big Luhya voting bloc in Nairobi.
