Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, leader of the Kenya Moja Movement party, has revisited the 2022 Nairobi governor race, revealing that she felt deceived by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) over the party's nomination process. In an interview on Radio Generation, Wanjiru claimed that after she had been declared the sole UDA candidate for governor, the party's nomination system was reopened at night, allowing another candidate to be entered.
Wanjiru expressed her disappointment and alleged that she was not informed about the changes to the nomination system. She stated that she had spent years building her political base in Nairobi and was confident of her chances in the gubernatorial contest. However, she was later convinced to abandon the race and seek the Senate seat instead, after being assured that her supporters would remain with her.
According to Wanjiru, she was promised that her supporters would stay with her if she transitioned to the Senate seat, and she secured almost 600,000 votes in the Senate contest. Nevertheless, she felt deceived when she was not given a Cabinet Secretary position, as promised. Wanjiru lost the Senate contest to ODM's Edwin Sifuna, who garnered 716,876 votes against her 524,091.
Wanjiru's political journey in Nairobi dates back to 2007 when she won the Starehe parliamentary seat on an ODM ticket. She later served as Assistant Minister for Housing in the Grand Coalition Government. After leaving Parliament in 2013, she remained active in Nairobi politics, making unsuccessful bids for the Senate and governor's positions.
Ahead of the 2022 General Election, Wanjiru initially sought the Nairobi governorship on a UDA ticket but later stepped aside for Governor Johnson Sakaja following negotiations within the Kenya Kwanza coalition. She has since returned to the Nairobi governor race as political activity gathers pace ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Wanjiru's allegations against UDA have sparked renewed debate about the party's nomination process and the dynamics of Nairobi politics. Her supporters have rallied around her, calling for her to be given a chance to contest the Nairobi governor seat in the upcoming elections.
As the 2027 General Election approaches, Wanjiru's determination to contest the Nairobi governor seat has been reaffirmed, and her supporters are eagerly awaiting her next move. With her extensive experience in politics and her previous electoral successes, Wanjiru is likely to be a contender to watch in the upcoming elections.
Key points
- Bishop Margaret Wanjiru alleges that UDA reopened its nomination system at night to deny her the Nairobi governor ticket in 2022.
- Wanjiru claims she was promised a Cabinet Secretary position but was not given the opportunity.
- Wanjiru lost the Senate contest to Edwin Sifuna but is now preparing for the 2027 General Election.
