Tycoon Jimi Wanjigi to Run for President on a Safina Party Ticket

Businessman Jimi Wanjigi has joined Safina Party ahead of the August 9th general elections.

Addressing the press on Wednesday, Wanjigi announced he will contest for the presidency under the lawyer Paul Mwite-led political outfit in the forthcoming elections.

"I did assure Kenyans that I will be on the ballot on August 9, 2022. And where I will be, it is where the next government will be formed. It will be a government of the people of Kenya and for the people of Kenya. Today, I have officially become a Member of Safina Party," he announced.

"We have all the ingredients to govern the country with a singular purpose to rebuild this society, to correct the inequalities and imbalances of the past, to empower the disempowered, to grow inclusive democratized economy, create jobs and wealth, and be a global player. Safina Party will build a partnership with Kenyans to deliver this mission.”

The move comes a week after the tycoon severed his ties with Raila Odinga and ODM after he was forcefully kicked out of the party’s National Delegates Conference at Kasarani indoor arena and roughed up by rowdy youths. Wanjigi had previously declared his intention to square it out with Odinga for the ODM presidential ticket.

“We were in a home called ODM and that was the party that I first ever joined in 2018. I joined ODM believing that our ideology, our policies especially espoused in the election of 2017, were still in sync," he told reporters on Wednesday.

"When we got together as NASA, we talked about Canaan which we envisioned for Kenyans was a Canaan away from what we termed as oppression and backward policies of the Jubilee government."

Wanjigi claims Odinga made it practically impossible for ODM to hold free, democratic, and credible presidential nominations.

"I have had many meetings with many Kenyans who want to stand on ODM ticket. They are scared and terrified. They do not believe the Party anymore holds its democratic credentials. It has become a personal fiefdom,” he noted.