Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko will be flying the Wiper party’s flag in the Mombasa County gubernatorial race.
The decision was reached after wide consultations among party members and Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo who had also expressed interest in the position under the wiper party ticket.
Sonko and Mbogo had been expected to face each other in the nominations before the decision was reached although Mbogo had initially been handed the ticket during the party’s National Delegates Conference.
The lawmaker will now have to deputize Sonko in the new agreement, in case he wins the August 9 elections.
Mbogo has been a member of Wiper since 2017 and it would have been fair for him to fly the flag, as compared to Sonko who was just a newcomer. He is about a month old as a wiper member.
It would have been even fairer if the nominations would have been conducted so that Wiper supporters decide who is the most suitable candidate between the two instead of talking Mbogo out of the race.
While announcing the development, party leader Kalonzo Musyoka said the two had agreed to work together even though it was not an easy task.
“Our consensus efforts continue to bear fruit. The National Elections Board is very pleased to announce that Mike Sonko and Ali Mboga have agreed to work together to deliver Mombasa County Governorship,” Kalonzo said.
In his speech however, Sonko revealed how he pinned Mbogo down so that he could give up his ambitions.
“Today we have agreed to put the interests of Mombasa citizens and Kenyans in general living in Mombasa first. It was not an easy task just as the party leader has said. The honorable first wanted me to be his deputy but I asked him where he had seen a former president going to vie for an MP seat or MCA, I told him that is not possible ” Sonko said.
He was referring to himself having served as a governor and there is no way he could take a lesser position.
Sonko however promised some goodies for Mombasa residents if they will agree to support him in the general elections, one being transforming Mombasa to be like Dubai.
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