Jubilee’s Matiang’i backs bishop Margaret Wanjiru for Nairobi governor

By  Kevin Cheruiyot

Correspondent

Nairobi governor aspirant Bishop Margaret Wanjiru has received a boost to her 2027 bid after Jubilee Party leader Fred Matiang’i pledged to support her quest to unseat Governor Johnson Sakaja.

Dr Matiang’i, who attended a church service at Jesus Is Alive Ministries in Nairobi on Sunday, declared that his party would work to ensure Bishop Wanjiru becomes the next governor of Nairobi County.

Bishop Wanjiru recently announced her bid for the seat under her Kenya Moja Movement Party.

Accompanied by several elected leaders, Dr Matiang’i accused some of Nairobi’s  politicians of using goons to intimidate opponents and residents, disrupt political rallies and cause chaos in churches.

He described Bishop Wanjiru as the right candidate to lead the city and urged her to press ahead with her campaign.

“I’m urging you not to retreat. I want to walk with you, and I’m serious. You know the journey of this Nairobi and I want to hold your hand as you lead me on these roads and introduce me to the people of Nairobi,” Dr Matiang’i said.

The former Cabinet secretary also called on opposition leaders to maintain unity, saying their shared goal should be to change the government in the 2027 General Election.

“There has never been a time in my memory when we have needed unity, togetherness and stability as we do in Kenya today. We are at a very critical juncture in history and must make decisions on how our country is going to move forward,” he said.

Dr Matiang’i said his party would reach out to other opposition-affiliated parties to strengthen their support bases and build a united front ahead of the election.

“This is a time to gather together, not to scatter anybody. We want to find a way of working together. I appeal to you to pray for our unity,” he said.

He also condemned what he described as attempts to disrupt his address at the church, accusing some Nairobi leaders of sponsoring heckling and disorder.

“I’m very firm and a believer in discipline and order. This behaviour you see here (heckling), some of it is engineered by leaders from Nairobi. It is a kind of nonsense I personally would not like to deal with because we are a democratic country and a free country, where people come and worship. Church should be respected,” he said.

The presidential hopeful further linked the disruptions and rising insecurity in the city to what he termed poor leadership, saying those responsible should be held accountable.

For her part, Bishop Wanjiru described herself as the best candidate to lead Nairobi and urged other aspirants, including Nairobi County chief officer Geoffrey Mosiria, to consider backing her bid to defeat Mr Sakaja, who is seeking a second term.

She accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of failing to fulfil its promises to improve living standards and create jobs, saying many Kenyans had been left behind.

Bishop Wanjiru also pledged to work with like-minded opposition leaders to push for political change and remove President William Ruto from office in the 2027 General Election.

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