Polycarp Igathe to vie for Nairobi governor on a Jubilee Party ticket

Former Equity Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Polycarp Igathe has now officially announced that he is throwing his hat into the Nairobi governor’s race.

Igathe, who in 2017 resigned from the post of deputy governor six months after taking office on a joint ticket with then county boss Mike Sonko, says he will be seeking the Jubilee Party ticket in his quest for the city's top seat.

“I have put my name, my spirit, my energy on the line to run for the governor of Nairobi County; 40 per cent of Kenya’s GDP deserves competence, patriotism and it deserves humility in service and that is what I have to offer,” Igathe told KTN News on Tuesday night.

“I want to seek the Jubilee Party ticket and to fly the Azimio flag with Raila Odinga as the presidential candidate.”

Igathe says that his decision was fueled by his passion to offer service delivery leadership.

He cites his experience in the business world as the foundation of spearheading the metropolis county to the next level with a focus on eradicating corruption.

“I am going to be the first politician who demonstrates that politics is not about looting wholesale from public coffers to distribute retail to your few friends, but it is about service and transforming livelihoods,” Igathe said.

Speaking on his 2017 resignation, Igathe dismissed claims that he stepped down since he was unable to perform, saying that the circumstances at the time hindered him from serving the city’s residents.

He defended his move alleging that he was sidelined in the county’s administration and thus feels he owes Nairobi residents for betraying their trust and not living up to their expectations.

“I apologize to those who did not understand my strategic retreat from politics. The most important article in the Constitution is Article 1; power belongs to the people. If you see you are going to betray that power, then you should step down,” he explained.

“You should not continue serving in public office when you know you are not serving the people and earning the salary when you are not working for it. Time has vindicated me, the reasons as to why I stepped down became obvious several years later.”

He added: “I stepped down to avoid abusing the trust that was placed in me by the people of Nairobi. I read the cabinet of Nairobi in the newspapers, I did not participate despite having been on the ticket; nominated MCAs were appointed without my knowledge.”

Under the Azimio umbrella, Igathe is now set out to face off with businessman Richard Ngatia, incumbent Governor Ann Kananu and businesswoman Agnes Kagure, all in Jubilee, as well as ODM’s Tim Wanyonyi.

Senator Johnston Sakaja is also seeking the Nairobi governor’s seat in the Kenya Kwanza camp.