A section of Jubilee Party MPs has broken silence on the ongoing debate on McDonald Mariga’s ticket in the upcoming November 7 Kibra by-elections.

The soccer star was given a direct Jubilee ticket on Monday evening. But according to a section of leaders from the party, Mariga has been imposed on the party by Deputy President Dr William Ruto.

MPs Maina Kamanda (nominated) and Moses Kuria (Gatundu South) on Tuesday said they would back Opposition Chief Raila Odinga’s ODM candidate in the poll set for November 7.

Mr Kamanda said he would not allow Deputy President William Ruto to ruin the peace brought by the handshake between Raila and President Uhuru Kenyatta with his “selfish political interests”.

Mariga on Monday denied claims that his decision to vie for the seat was influenced by Dr Ruto.He said he had sought the advice of people close to him before deciding to throw his hat in the Kibra by-election ring.

Kamanda yesterday dismissed the former footballer’s assertions, saying Ruto was using him as a pawn in his quest to face off with Raila in Kibra.

“The candidate Jubilee Party picked has been imposed on the party by Ruto. He is Ruto’s candidate and not Jubilee’s. I am for a candidate who will be announced by ODM,” said Kamanda.

He questioned Ruto’s keenness on having a candidate in Kibra, even after Jubilee decided not to field any in Ugenya, Migori and Embakasi South for the sake of the handshake.

As a result, the leaders have vowed to support the opposition in the upcoming by-elections.

Mr Kuria said Mariga was not suited to represent Kibra. He vowed to throw his weight behind Benson Musungu should ODM settle on him.

Kuria said Mr Musungu had lived in the sprawling informal settlement and understood it, adding that the handshake had freed them to support any candidate irrespective of the party.Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja was also cagey on who intended to back in the Kibra by-election.

He said he had hoped Jubilee would back an ODM candidate to continue the late Ken Okoth’s legacy in Kibra.“I had asked my party to back a candidate from ODM, but that request was declined. What I can say is that Kibra needs a good leader who can continue what Ken started,” said Mr Sakaja.

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  • Your Comment : I have now believed that we do not have an independent electoral and boundaries commission , instead we have a congregation of greedy individuals out to misuse Kenyans and bring chaos to our country. #Remove them. #clean the top leadership.

  • Congratulations to Governor Mutua,you really deserve to lead in the best performing governors,,, those ranked last should be dealt with accordingly for misappropriating public funds

  • Raila was the hunter now the hunted... how do trust a hyena like Uhuru.. You both greedy... you dug your grave lie in it... What handshake.. Crap...

  • Babu aje zake,handshake is for all Kenyans, and Kibra believe in handshake, there4, Uhuru And Raila should have different candidates and whoever Will go through Will be thé product of handshake

  • Hehehe, supporting somebody was not an agreement in the handshake my friends!! Remember Raila caused many to die during the era of maandamano hence Uhuru devised a method how to tame this power hungry man!! Mariga must win

  • Your Raila and uhuru come from different political party,. Everyone is free to handle his party issues and i salute the president for supporting mariga being the jubilee candidate. Raila is also supporting the odm candidate and no one is against that. Some people are taking handshake as political party while it's not. Please mr mp style up.

  • Babu wacha kiherehere or baba will tie u the same tree kidero and obado were rope tied when the latters looked threatening the leadership of baba in nyanza

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