Sonko threatens to join NASA over alleged Jubilee bias
By PATRICK LANG’AT palangat@ke.nationmedia.comNairobi governor aspirant Mike Sonko has hinted at joining the opposition National Super Alliance (Nasa), alleging a plot to deny him the Jubilee Party ticket.
Mr Sonko, who is the Nairobi senator battling for President Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party ticket in the race to unseat ODM’s Evans Kidero, also dismissed summons from the party disciplinary committee for being involved in violence.
The committee had ordered him to appear after he clashed last week with supporters of his bitter rival, 2013 presidential candidate Peter Kenneth who is backed by Starehe MP Maina Kamanda for the top city job.
“If Nasa assures me of a party ticket, I will have no choice but to join them. Nasa is a coalition of people, not devils; same thing to Jubilee so there is no problem if I join them,” Mr Sonko said in a radio interview, later repeating the comments in a roadside stopover in Ngara, Nairobi.
JUBILEE LEADERSHIP
Mr Sonko has alleged a plot that he says is being hatched at the very heart of the Jubilee leadership to deny him the ticket in favour of Mr Kenneth.
But President Kenyatta has previously disputed the claims, saying he will not interfere with the nominations but was ready to be an “honest broker” in the feud.
“All I want is for the governor of Nairobi to come from Jubilee. And if they come to me and say that they want to reach a consensus, I will do it. I will be an independent and honest broker,” President Kenyatta said of the Nairobi Jubilee politics.
SUMMONED TO APPEAR
Mr Sonko alleged bias in his being summoned to appear before the party for disciplinary action. Others also summoned are Governors Mwangi wa Iria (Murang’a) and Joseph Ndathi (Kirinyaga), as well as Nakuru East MP David Gikaria.
“They are saying that I broke things worth Sh7 million. I will not pay that fine and I will not appear before the committee. I know they might use this to throw me out of the party. And I have no problem. I am ready to join other parties,” said Mr Sonko.
He dismissed the possibility of running for the post as an independent candidate.
“Some Jubilee politicians are plotting to have me as an independent so that we can divide the votes with the governor (Dr Evans) Kidero, so that their person can win,” he said.
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