Ongoro set to support Senator Beatrice Kwamboka in Nairobi Women Rep race
Nairobi, 28th February, 2022: Former Kasarani Member of parliament Elizabeth Ongoro is set to step down from the Nairobi Women Representative race in support of Nominated Senator Beatrice Kwamboka, today we can authoritatively report.
Ongoro, a former Nairobi Metropolitan Assistant Minister will shelve her bid for the Nairobi women representative in favour of Kwamboka against incumbent Esther Passaris during the Azimio la Umoja nominations ahead of the general elections scheduled for August 9, 2022.
Ongoro who has been on the campaign trail to make a return to the National Assembly after 10 years in the cold has hinted of stepping down in favour of Kwamboka and seek to be nominated in the Senate.
The former Kasarani law maker and a diehard supporter of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is instead shifting her focus to train her energies in campaigning for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader to be elected as Kenya’s fifth president to avoid being distracted while on her own campaign trail; this will pve the way for Kwamboka to run for parliament.
“At the moment my vigorous campaigns in the city might be mistaken for campaigning for the Nairobi Women’s representative post. I am focused in popularizing ODM and Azimio in fulfilling dreams, interest and satisfaction of ‘Baba’ being elected as Kenya’s next president. That’s why am endorsing someone else that is Beatrice Kwamboka to compete for the women Rep position,” Ongoro told an ODM campaign meeting.
Ongoro said she had settled on Kwamboka, who is the Senate Deputy Minority Whip, because under the Azimio La Umoja negotiated democracy which will see member parties sharing out seats, ODM will retain the Nairobi Womens representative seat held by Passaris.
Under the deal, it is most likely Jubilee Party will be given the nod to run for the Governor and Senator positions on an Azimio ticket and ODM will produce the Women Rep candidate.
“If Jubilee is given both tickets is which most likely that the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) president Richard Ngatia and former Sports Minister Maina Kamanda will be Azimio’s flag bearers for Governor and Senate respectively, both are from Mount Kenya region while Ngatia’s running mate will be from the Luhya community rumoured to be Makadara MP George Aladwa,” she said.
“If Passaris therefore gets the Azimio ticket, it will result to a regional imbalance in representation since all the contestants will be from one region. I am rooting for Kwamboka, who is from Nyanza, to bring regional balance,” Ongoro added.
“Passaris is my friend, and a strong supporter of ODM but if Azimio candidate in Nairobi is going to be Ngatia and Kamanda with the governor’s running mate coming from the Luhya community, then it’s just logical that the women Rep ticket goes to another tribe which strongly supports Azimio so that different communities don’t feel left out,” she said.
Ongoro said apart from regional balance, Kwamboka compared to other aspirants has been tried, tested and passed the test.
“Kwamboka was born and raised in Nairobi at one time served the city as a Member of County Assembly (MCA) and is now serving as a Senator. She is the Senate Minority Whip and her loyalty for our ODM party and leader Raila Odinga is steadfast and cannot be doubted. She therefore deserves the Azimio ticket,” said Ongoro.
She said the Kisii community has been solidly behind ODM for many years in Raila’s political life and since Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati is shifting base to Kisii where he is eyeing the area’s gubernatorial seat it will be good to return the favour by ensuring a member of that tribe is given a ticket to run for parliament as a replacement for Arati so that they are not left out of the city’s leadership.
“Let’s give the Azimio ticket to Kwamboka who is from the Kisii’s, a community that supports Azimio and has been supporting Jakom as a reward for their loyaly,” said Ongoro.
