Why Polycarp Igathe was picked as Sonko’s running mate

Vivo Energy MD Polycarp Igathe was picked by Mike Sonko as his running after going through a rigorous interview with a shortlist of 11 people.According to Sonko and his campaign team, this decision was reached basing on certain things.

First and foremost Mr. Igathe’s selection was to appease Nairobi’s powerful Kikuyu business people that had rallied behind Peter Kenneth. These people not only saw Peter Kenneth as a prospective County governor but also future president of Kenya.

Secondly, Igathe was the best choice for Sonko because as the deputy governor he is going to be in effective control of policy, planning, and development while Sonko is left to be a political head of the city.

Thirdly Mr. Igathe was brought into balance to stand as the face of modern corporate governance on which the Nairobi County government will operate on.

Some people say that Jubilee’s and Nairobi’s elites had the fear that populist Sonko, clueless in the finer arts of management, was on the verge of being elected governor making it hard for him to rule the city that is why they picked on Igathe.

With Igathe in place, they know he is the best choice as the deputy governor. He is a complete down to earth man who knows his job best.

In addition, it is said that when he joined Shell as Vivo, he made it a big success as no one brand in the petroleum industry. Now with Mike Sonko and Polycarp Igathe, they are confident that the two will make Nairobi the best city to live in.

According to Sonko for him to settle on Igathe, he consulted with other stakeholders who advised him to pick him as his running mate because they saw his potential of controlling the city.

“I held meetings with stakeholders, the business community, investors, leaders of various residents associations and Nairobi residents who helped me come up with a running mate. The gubernatorial race is not about Sonko, it’s about real change that the people of Nairobi desire,” Sonko Said.

According to some people that was not just a Sonko affair, but a calculated move by the Deputy President William Ruto in ensuring that he becomes the president in 2022.

Last but not least other people say that Igathe is the best choice because he is able to work in harmony with other people irrespective of their political differences and line of thinking.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kenneth’s comeback as an independent candidate in the gubernatorial race, just days after the Jubilee Party unveiled Igathe is likely to compromise Sonko’s candidature.