Former Kenyan football star McDonald Mariga Wanyama is a man under siege following reported discrepancies on his actual age, which came to light after he recently shot his way into politics.
According to Wikipedia, which can be edited by anyone, the former defensive midfielder was born on April 4, 1987 contrary to what his father Mzee Noah Wanyama had said in a previous media interview lin 2018.
Wanyama Senior had indicated that Mariga, was born in 1981, and he recalled how he guided the first-born into football career from a tender age.
“I started going with Mariga for practice at City Stadium when he was only nine. He would carry my bag, and wipe my shoes, and I would help him make polythene balls to play with,” he said, as was quoted by The Standard.
In August 2019, the former Inter Millan star announced his bid for the Kibra Constituency Member of Parliament seat following the death of Ken Okoth (former MP).
But it was until his voter’s card bearing his ID number was leaked to the public that the game changed. Many Kenyans think that the ID number 29801496 on the voter’s card which Mariga has since confirmed to be his, should instead belong to persons born in the 1990s.
Dear Good Citizens Of Kibra .. Here, meet your incoming MP Hon. Mariga when he was 5 Years Old in 1992 as per the ID he is using to be your MP …. Constitution entitles you to full disclosure on your MP ….. pic.twitter.com/uHITFLe67L
— Donald B Kipkorir (@DonaldBKipkorir) September 12, 2019
His birth day was written on the beach in high tide . ….but we can speculate hakosi 42 hapo
— Mzalendo (@JohMats) September 12, 2019
Add his two ages and divide by two. You answer will have a marginal error of + or – 5 na utoshekee hapo
— I AM spin (@jothamhimself) September 12, 2019
Not sure ,but mu dad is 45 and he says they were classmates. Who’s lying??
— Nafula (@trizah_tee) September 12, 2019
#Mariga
Going by his “voters” card..
This nigga Mariga ….
😂😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/j1xSsTkNLc— *N.e.f.e.r.t.i.t.i* ⚛️™🥇 (@africanqueenmum) September 11, 2019
A summary of Mariga’s political journey #Mariga pic.twitter.com/qREJzztxNf
— Rachi (@RaphaelRachi) September 10, 2019
Mariga is the brother to 28-year old (according to Wikipedia) Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Victor Mugubi Wanyama, Basketball star Mercy Wanyama, footballer Sylvester Wanyama and Thomas Wanyama.
Cases of age cheating is rampant in sports and most African players seeking to join the European league have been accused of fasifying their age to look younger and eligible.