Businessman Jimmy Wanjigi has welcomed President Uhuru’s move to support former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the presidency saying he is more than ready to face off with him for an ODM ticket.
Speaking at Ngong on Thursday, August 12, Wanjigi who recently joined the race to battle for ODM presidential ticket expressed optimism that he can easily defeat Raila Odinga at the party’s primaries.
“I have heard rumors from the media that President Uhuru is supporting a Raila presidency, I welcome the move. In fact, the president should join ODM and campaign for Raila,” Wanjigi said.
Wanjigi, who has been a big supporter of Raila Odinga and a financier of his campaigns strongly condemned Duale’s recent claim that the orange party lacks democracy arguing that ODM is the only political party founded and run on the basis of democracy compared to other political parties in the country.
“If he will vie for the ODM ticket I will defeat him in the party nominations. ODM is a party to watch because I am certain that ODM will conduct free and fair nominations and allow justice to prevail,” Wanjigi added.
President Uhuru on Tuesday, August 10, held a three-hour meeting with opposition chiefs at State House, Mombasa where it was reported that the Head of State officially settled on Raila as his successor.
The president who has bitterly fallen out with his deputy reportedly asked the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) leaders to drop their 2022 presidential ambitions and back his handshake mate for the top seat in the next year’s General Election.
In July, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said the ODM party will not give a direct presidential ticket to anyone including its party leader Raila Odinga in the upcoming 2022 General Election.
“Let me assure you that no candidate has been issued with a certificate including the party leader. Even Baba (Raila Odinga) will have to battle it out with other candidates including the renowned businessman Jimmy Wanjigi, for the presidential ticket” Sifuna said.
