Stakes are high and there is intense lobbying for the position of the Nairobi County Assembly Majority and Minority leaderships.
A section of ODM, Wiper and Jubilee MCAs met yesterday and called on their respective Parties to settle on South C MCA Abbass Khalif as the Majority leader at the Nairobi County Assembly.
The MCAs called on their Parties to settle on the ward rep saying he is a unifying figure and experienced.
“Abbass worked with former leaders at City Hall. He has never fallen out with any leader. He is a person who can steer the coalition to success,” said a ward rep who requested anonymity.
The ward rep drawn from ODM, said they have asked the Party leadership to give the position to Abbass since he also comes from the Minority North Eastern Community.
Wiper and Jubilee MCAs have also promised to ask their respective parties to support Abbass.
A senior ODM official said they will give the position to Abbass because he has supported the Party in the past.
“Behind the scenes, Abbass has been instrumental in the past success of ODM,” the top ODM leader said.
Abbass promised to make ODM and Azimio great in Nairobi.
“We will make Baba proud in Nairobi. We will work hard to ensure the Coalition succeeds,” he said.
Currently, ODM has 35 MCAs, Jubilee 6, and Wiper 4.
This brings the total number of the Azimio reps to 45.
This excludes the nominated MCAs who are yet to be gazzetted.
UDA has 35 elected reps and Chama Cha Kazi one rep.
The Assembly has 3 independent members.
The independent members are from Roysambu, Mkuru Kwa Njenga and Kariobangi North.
The Roysamabu and Mkuru Kwa Njenga reps are leaning towards Kenya Kwanza whereas the one from Kariobangi North is leaning towards Azimio.
In Utawala, a candidate died and the elections will be held in November.