The party has refuted media reports that it had given Sonko the direct ticket noting that during the party’s National Delegates Congress (NDC) in November 2021, the party had purposed to endorse Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo.
Although Mbogo was the preferred candidate for Wiper before Sonko joined the Party, a list from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) that leaked on Monday intimated that the two were to face off in the primaries.
According to the Nation, Secretary-General Shakila Abdalla stated that Sonko was not given the direct ticket and was free to express his interest in succeeding Governor Hassan Joho.
Abdalla stated that Wiper was in the process of engaging members, with the view to persuade Sonko or Mbogo to withdraw from the race.
“As a party, we have our ways of sitting our members down. Right now we are in the negotiated democracy drive… If there is a way we can convince one of them to step down in favour of the other it will be better. But if negotiated democracy fails to succeed, then our next option will be nominations,†she explained.
Either Sonko or Mbogo will face off with former Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar, of UDA and Mvita MP Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir or Mombasa billionaire Suleiman Shabal on an ODM ticket.
Sonko was officially welcomed to Wiper by party leader Kalonzo Musyoka on March 25, with his team hinting that he was considering plans to reclaim his seat as Nairobi County boss.
However, Sonko still faces an integrity test in his quest for a political comeback.
His eligibility to run for an elective seat remains contentious given that the constitution advocates for the disqualification of aspirants found, in accordance with any law, to have misused or abused a State office or public office.
Sonko was impeached by the Nairobi County Assembly, before the Senate ratified the decision, sealing his fate. Efforts by Sonko to overturn the verdict proved futile. His appeal at the Supreme Court, however, is still pending.
Earlier Mbogo stated the Wiper party was not willing to rescind its endeavour to field candidates in Mombasa even after the party signed a political agreement with the Azimio la Umoja coalition.
“There is no agreement so far as Azimio to field one candidate, for us, we have paid all the fees required to participate in the race and we are ready for the task,†Mbogo stated.
Source: KENYAGIST.COM
