Vocal Jubilee MP meets Raila after Uhuru endorsed Mariga

Nominated Member of Parliament Maina Kamanda met members of ODM on Thursday a day after President Uhuru Kenyatta endorsed footballer McDonald Mariga.

Mr Kamanda held a meeting with ODM leader Raila Odinga and later addressed journalists where he announced his support for Imran Okoth for the Kibra parliamentary seat.

“I am here in my personal capacity...The Handshake brought us harmony and peace in the country," the nominated MP said.

"As Jubilee, we have a candidate but as a person, I will be with the ODM candidate…I am here to stand with the candidate nominated by ODM Imran Okoth," he added.

Mr Kamanda said that he would support Imran since his late brother Ken Okoth was his close friend.

Uhuru endorses Mariga

Addressing the press, Mr Odinga thanked Mr Kamanda for supporting Imran Okoth and asked Kibra residents to hold a peaceful by-election.

"We would like to see that the campaign in Kibra is done in a very peaceful and friendly atmosphere. We don't want any kind of violence in this campaign," Raila stated.

The endorsement by Mr Kamanda comes barely a day after President Kenyatta met Mariga who is the Jubilee Party candidate in the battle for the Kibra parliamentary seat.

President Kenyatta endorsed Mariga's candidature in the Kibra by-election in a surprise move that now complicates the contest.

Mariga's entry into the race caused major infighting within the Jubilee Party amid accusations that his candidature was being pushed by Deputy President William Ruto.