When Polycarp Igathe said he will win Nairobi gubernatorial race at 8:57 am, many doubted him but his campaign approach might just make you think twice about not believing his statement.
Since the former Nairobi deputy governor was unveiled as the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya candidate for the city’s top seat, Igathe has been virtually everywhere in this city.
Though he has been branded as a political no starter, his style of explaining his agenda directly to the people should worry his main competitor, Johnson Sakaja.
On one hand, Sakaja has been accompanying the Kenya Kwanza alliance bigwigs in selling his candidature with the promise of liberating the hustlers.
Igathe on the other hand has had nothing to do with public rallies or gatherings instead he has been having a direct and personal conversation with the hustlers.
In fact, in his first campaign, after he was endorsed by Azimio One Kenya, Igathe visited the ever-busy Marikiti market where he freely interrupted the traders very early in the morning.
He has been sharing the photos of his encounter with informal dwellers such as mama mbogas, and Boda Bodas, and even taking tea with them.
“To Go is To See” and today I witnessed some of the frustrations our traders continue to encounter daily as they opened their businesses very early in the morning at the Market, City Park, and City Markets,
“Security within the markets, low hygiene standards, high parking fees…are just some of the issues the traders shared.” Igathe said after visiting the Marikiti market.
The former Equity Bank executive has only attended one public rally in the city which was attended by the Azimio flag bearer Raila Odinga since he declared his intense In the top city job.
Igathe’s style of seeking votes has already begun touching several people, as social media users warn the Kenya Kwanza team not to underestimate the former deputy governor.
“Initially I thought what Igathe was doing was a joke. But he is touching hearts. What a way to campaign.” Pauline Njau a Twitter user said.
Another random Twitter user George Dianoh said, “Polycarp Igathe is out there doing door-to-door campaign dishing out money left & right akinunulia watu smokie na virenje. But my fellow Luhya man (Johnstone Sakaja) is on top of the SUV shouting that hapangwingwi.”
In the recent opinion polls, Igathe is closing the gap on Sakaja with 81 days remaining to the General Election.
According to polls by Mizani Africa, Johnson Sakaja is the most popular gubernatorial candidate with 48.4 % support while Igathe is second with 43.1% support.
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