Njuri Ncheke endorses Kananu for city governor seat, urges Uhuru and Raila to back her

• Feb 14, 2022

Njuri Ncheke endorses Kananu for city governor seat, urges Uhuru and Raila to back her  

By Justus Karanja

The revered Meru Council of Elders, Njuri Ncheke, which is the Supreme governing council of elders, has endorsed Nairobi County Governor Anne Kananu (pictured) for the top city seat ahead of the August 9 General Election.

The elders, led by the council’s Chairman, Linus Kathera and Secretary-General Washington Muthamia also asked Governor Kananu to work closely with Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga.

The elders were speaking when they paid Kananu a courtesy call at her Karen residence in Nairobi.

But their endorsement came with a caution that Raila should also endorse Kananu for the Nairobi County top seat.

“Any serious presidential candidate should ensure that they support our daughter since she is currently the governor of Nairobi,” Kathera said.

This means that Raila should have to calculate his moves in order to ensure that he woos Meru voters at large following the endorsement.

The Meru elders move comes a few days after Kikuyu Council of Elders endorsed Agnes Kagure for the city’s top seat.

Kagure met the elders as she sought to win over the populous Kikuyu community to back her bid.

After the meeting, Kagure said she was honoured to have joined other national leaders and the Kikuyu elders' leadership led by Patron Kinyua Mwangi in celebrating Chairman Wachira Wa Kiago, as well as charting a common path for the Kikuyu nation ahead of the August 9 General Election.

“As our elders emphasized to Siaya Senator James Orengo and EALA Mp Oburu Odinga who represented Azimio Captain, Raila Odinga, our people are ready for Canaan, and so is Nairobi ready for better days, with the best leader who was formally handed to them,” she said.

“Thank you for the elderly blessing and the endorsement. Niko Tayari.

Currently, Westlands Member of Parliament (MP) Tim Wanyonyi and brother to Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula, has declared his interest in taking over from Kananu on Azimio ticket.

Others working with Raila under the Azimio la Umoja umbrella and are eyeing the Governorship includes Dennis Waweru, the former Dagoretti South MP.

Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Richard Ngatia is also eyeing the seat on Azimio ticket.

On the Deputy President William Ruto’s side eyeing the position include former Starehe MP Bishop Margaret Wanjiru and Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja who is being backed by Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi.

Speaking during the meeting, the Meru elders said they were open to sacrificing the Deputy President’s position for the Kikuyu community hence urging President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila to return the favour by backing a Meru for the top city seat.