Junet Mohamed: I’m not aware that Jimi Wanjigi is running for president

Only two candidates have expressed interest in running for the country's top seat next year under an ODM ticket, according to Mohamed, who spoke to Citizen TV on Wednesday. They are Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and his Kakamega counterpart Wycliffe Oparanya.

“I’m not aware that Jimi Wanjigi is running (for presidency) in our party. I’m just hearing from you. The people whom I know who have shown interest and paid the nomination fees are Ali Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya,” said Mohamed.

Mohamed claimed that by February, the party will have ironed out issues and deliberated on who should be its flag bearer in the polls.

“Then the election board is coming up with a mechanism, consensus being part of it, to sort out nomination issues. In the course of next month or the other month they will agree on the way forward and give a ticket to one person,” he stated.

ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna was also quoted on Wednesday dismissing claims that Wanjigi poses competition to ODM chief Raila Odinga in their race for the top seat.

Sifuna explained that Wanjigi did not submit his application to the party before the closure of the process and thus he was locked out of the nominations.

“The process was closed on March 31, 2021, and Wanjigi did not apply during the period. The only people who applied are two and they have pulled out to support somebody else,” Sifuna told KTN.

“I don’t think you can describe Jimi Wanjigi as Raila’s competition. He has written a letter to the party requesting that the process be reopened then we can make a decision towards that,” he added.

Their sentiments come just a day after Wanjigi announced that he had received blessings from his father and is now ready for his presidential quest.

In photos shared on Tuesday from a traditional ceremony held at his parent’s home, Wanjigi is seen with his father, former minister Maina Wanjigi.

​​ “Amûkîra kîrathimo gía thoguo níguo útuíke mûthamaki, gîtonga, mûrathi, mûndû mûgo na njamba,” (Seek blessings from your father that you may be brave and wealthy: a seer, warrior, healer, and leader),” Wanjigi wrote on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Odinga has been traversing the country in recent months popularising his yet-undeclared presidential bid, and is expected to formally announce his run on Friday, December 10, at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.