Football star McDonald Mariga has officially joined the race for Kibra by-election after handing over his papers for interview at the Jubilee Party headquarters in Nairobi where he is seeking the party’s ticket.
Speaking to the press after the exercise the celebrated footballer confirmed that he had submitted everything and was set for the contest.
“I want to give back to the community because I know what people want. I am not a project of anyone and I will support whoever wins since I was born and raised in Kibra,” said Mariga.
The football star, however, declined to declare whether he had officially retired from football but said he will give a directive later on.
The entrance of the popular soccer man into politics was marred with controversies after a list of five candidates contesting for Jubilee Party candidature went viral on social media.
Despite the IEBC confirming that they had received the letter, Jubilee Party dismissed the letter as fake.
However, Dennis Itumbi, a blogger associated with the office of the Deputy President (DP) William Ruto, insisted the letter was genuine.
Interestingly, later on, a list of 16 aspirants seeking Jubilee Party candidature was confirmed by the party with the first five names being those indicated in the disputed letter.
The submission of individual’s details comes at the backdrop of rumored infighting within the ruling party with National Election Board reportedly divided into two.
Already, reports making rounds indicate that DP Ruto favors Mariga while on the other hand Jubilee Party Secretary General Rafael Tuju is accused of plotting to field a weak candidate to give ODM party a through way.
Among the aspirants seeking Jubilee Party ticket include Mariga, Morris Kinyanjui, Walter Trenk, Ibrahim Said, Doreen Wasike, Oscar Kambona, Bukachi Chapia, Jane Githaiga, Jack Owino, Elli Rajab and Daniel Aden.
Others are Daniel Orogo, Ramadhan Hussein, Frank Amollo, Timothy Kaimenyi and Geoffrey Mwangi.
The Kibra by-election is set for November 7.
I am not a project of anyone and I will support whoever wins since I was born and raised in Kibra – McDonald Mariga pic.twitter.com/hq16VYTtYy
— Daily Nation (@dailynation) September 2, 2019