Tim Wanyonyi to Deputise Igathe in the Race for Nairobi Gubernatorial Seat

After almost seven hours, two meetings, and numerous phone calls between the leaders, it was agreed ODM governor hopeful Tim Wanyonyi shelves his ambition and agrees to back Jubilee nominee Polycarp Igathe as his deputy.

However, one small hitch popped out that will be ironed out today: Wiper party of Kalonzo Musyoka had already entered into an agreement to have Prof Philip Kaloki deputize Igathe and with the new arrangement, Wiper will be staking out for another slot.

There was, however, tension after a five-hour marathon meeting chaired by Raila at a Nairobi hotel failed to broker a deal. An adamant Wanyonyi forced the leaders to seek President Uhuru’s intervention at State House, Nairobi.

Raila had convened the meeting at the five-star hotel located in Nairobi’s Upper Hill area moments after attending the first-ever Azimio la Umoja Council that was chaired by Uhuru.

The meeting, roped in some senior ODM officials including deputy leaders Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega governor) and Mombasa’s Ali Hassan Joho, Director of Elections Junet Mohamed (Suna East), Babu Owino (Embakasi East), George Aladwa (Nairobi ODM chairman and Makadara MP), Anthony Oluoch (Mathare MP), Raphael Wanjala (Budalang’i) and Justus Kizito Mugali (Shinyalu), is said to have been full of tempers with a section of the Luhya leaders threatening to decamp from the coalition.

Wanyonyi is said to have remained firm as he was buoyed by the support of Wanjala and Kizito, who openly challenged Raila to state “the stake” of the Luhya people in Azimio.