Mike Sonko Receives Former Nairobi Governor Anne Kananu Into NEDP After Quitting UDA
According to Sonko, Kananu will contest for the Mara Constituency parliamentary seat in Tharaka Nithi County on the NEDP ticket.
Phot: Courtesy.
By Anneth Chepng’etich
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has officially welcomed former Nairobi Governor Anne Kananu into the National Economic Development Party (NEDP) following her resignation from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), in what is the latest political realignment ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Sonko, who is the patron of NEDP, announced Kananu’s entry into the party during a press briefing on Thursday, saying she will seek an elective seat in her rural home county.
According to Sonko, Kananu will contest for the Mara Constituency parliamentary seat in Tharaka Nithi County on the NEDP ticket.
“I am delighted to officially welcome former Nairobi Governor Anne Kananu to the National Economic Development Party. She has chosen to join our movement after leaving UDA and will be seeking the Mara Constituency parliamentary seat under the NEDP banner,” Sonko said.
Sonko said the party is positioning itself as an alternative platform for leaders who are focused on grassroots development and service delivery. He said Kananu’s decision to join NEDP is a sign of growing confidence in the party’s agenda and organizational strength.
“NEDP is committed to transforming communities through accountable leadership, economic empowerment, improved infrastructure, better healthcare, quality education, and job creation. We believe Anne Kananu shares these values and is ready to serve the people of Mara Constituency,” he added.
The former Nairobi Governor at the same time sought to clarify that no aspirant will be given a direct party ticket, including Kananu. He said all candidates seeking to vie on the NEDP ticket will be subjected to a competitive nomination process.
“No one will be handed a direct ticket. Every aspirant must face the party members through free, fair, and credible nominations. Democracy will guide our party,” Sonko stated.
Kananu is yet to issue a detailed statement on her reasons for leaving UDA, but her exit comes at a time when political parties are intensifying their reorganization and recruitment drives as the country edges closer to the 2027 polls.
She served as Nairobi’s third governor between November 2021 and August 2022, taking over from Sonko after his impeachment by the Nairobi County Assembly and Senate. She later joined UDA after President William Ruto’s election in 2022.
Her latest move is expected to alter the political equation in Tharaka Nithi County, where the contest for the Mara Constituency seat is already drawing interest from several aspirants. Political observers say her entry into NEDP could give the relatively small party increased visibility in the Mount Kenya region.
NEDP has in recent months been seeking to expand its national footprint by recruiting former elected leaders and civic leaders across the country.
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