NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 21- Businessman Jimi Wanjigi has maintained that he is the best candidate to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta during the August elections.
Speaking during a round table meeting with journalists on Thursday, Wanjigi stated that he has always supported those in power now and those who have wanted to be in presidency before like Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga,
but they have failed and disappointed him.
“It all started in 2013 when I supported President Kenyatta and Deputy William Ruto. We had an agenda then. We had a bigger dream for this country but 9 years later, that dream is no more. The economy has been crippled and that is why I am
saying it is time for change and I am that change
that Kenyans want,” Wanjigi said.
He faulted Odinga for shaking hands with President Kenyatta in 2018 saying he did
not only betray those who sacrificed everything for him, but also the Supreme Court that nullified the 2017 presidential election and ordered for a repeat.
“We did all that and at times almost killed, one day I will tell you many stories about
that only to be betrayed at the steps of Harambee House. Somebody goes for a personal arrangement when 85 people had been killed by police bullets. What was
all that? Why would someone take away people’s dreams like that?” Wanjigi posed.
“It was the highest betrayal and that is why I am now saying, enough is enough.”
The Safina Party Presidential candidate insisted that he will be on the ballot come
August 9 with no chances of stepping down for anyone.
“I will be on the ballot and I am not compromising that position for anybody and my
party has not given me any other mandate. I intend to sweep and get everything,” Wanjigi said.
Wanjigi further pointed out that he attended the United Democratic Alliance (UDA)
party’s National Delegates Convention (NDC) as an equal competitor who has nothing against Deputy President William Ruto and that relationship should not
be mistaken
“He invited me, and I attended because I said why not? I showed solidarity of some sort because we have no enmity but when I got to the stage, I was very clear that we were competitors and we were going to be mature about it,” he said.
He however stated that he is still having discussions with likeminded people not only for the sake of pre-election plans but also the post-election coalition plans.
Political pundits have in the past termed Wanjigi as a silent kingmaker who has sat on the decision-making table and whose say has mattered in 2013 and 2017 general
elections.
Others have said that he has been the one that played a key role in funding Uhuruto
campaigns in 2013 and Raila Odinga’s in 2017.
Wanjigi cut ties with the ODM party on Feb 26, after he was roughed up and barred from attending the ODM National Delegates Convention (NDC) which was held at the
Kasarani gymnasium.
The genesis of his woes was his declaration that he was going to vie for the ODM’s
presidential ticket against party’s leader Odinga.
He has since joined the Paul Muite-led Safina party which endorsed him as its
Presidential candidate for the August 9 polls.
