Nairobi News

Nairobi politicians George Aladwa and Reuben Ndolo are to renew their rivalry in the coming party elections after they declared interest in the same seat.

Each wants to be the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) organising secretary.

Mr Aladwa (above) is a former Nairobi mayor while Mr Ndolo once served as Makadara MP. In the last elections, Mr Aladwa unsuccessfully vied for the Makadara seat.

“I am fully in the race and I will win,” Mr Ndolo said yesterday.

Whereas Mr Aladwa is a staunch supporter of Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Kidero, Mr Ndolo has expressed lukewarm support for the county chief and it is likely that Dr Kidero will throw his weight behind Mr Aladwa. Dr Kidero wants to be the vice chairman.

The post of national organising secretary is currently held by Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho with Mr Ndolo as his deputy.

Mr Aladwa and Mr Ndolo have, on several occasions, been on opposite sides but things came to a head in 2010 during the Makadara by-election when they led opposing camps in ODM.

At one point, Mr Ndolo’s supporters gate-crashed into an event attended by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga where Mr Aladwa was present, breaking  the door to the amphitheatre.

Mr Odinga had to intervene by explaining that ODM had given Mr Ndolo a direct nomination because he was the one who had filed the petition challenging Mr Dick Wathika’s election.

Mr Aladwa is said to have gone ahead to support Mr Ndolo’s rival Mike Sonko, now the Nairobi Senator in the by-election.

In 2011, they were at it again battling it out for the ODM Nairobi chairmanship in which Mr Aladwa upstaged his nemesis.

Mbalambala MP Abdikadir Omar Aden is also eyeing the seat.