Celebrated Kenyan Footballer McDonald Mariga Seeks Jubilee Ticket in Kibra By-Election

Kenyan football star McDonald Mariga has been cleared to fight for Jubilee Party ticket ahead of Kibra parliamentary by-election on November 7th.

Mariga is among 16 candidates who have expressed interest to run for the Kibra MP seat on a Jubilee ticket, the ruling party’s National Election Board (NEB) Chairperson Andrew Musangi told Daily Nation.

“As by 5.30 pm on Friday, we had received a list of 16 candidates. We are proceeding with interviews and by Monday afternoon, a decision on who will be the Jubilee party ticket flag bearer will be officially announced,” said Musangi.

Other candidates who are eying Jubilee ticket include Morris Kinyanjui, Walter Trenk, Ibrahim Said, Doreen Wasike, Oscar Kambona, and Bukachi Chapia.

Also on the list are Jane Githaiga, Jack Owino, Omondi Rajab, Daniel Adem, Daniel Orogo, Ramadhan Hussein, Frank Amollo, Timothy Kaimenyi, and Geoffrey Mwangi.

Mariga, 32, has been without a club since he was released by Spanish outfit Real Oviedo. He previously played for Parma, Inter Milan, Real Sociedad, and Helsingborg among others.

Mariga, who made 40 appearances for Kenyan national team and scored five goals, has been touted as the favorite to clinch Jubilee ticket for Kibra by-election. There was speculation that he is being fronted by Deputy President William Ruto.

Jubilee’s candidate will lock horns with the person who will clinch Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket and Amani National Congress’ (ANC) Eliud Owalo.