Mariga is like a preacher who thinks he will convert congregants into voters — Senator Ledama Ole Kina

Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina has played down McDonald Mariga’s chances of clinching the Kibra parliamentary seat on a Jubilee Party ticket saying he is bound to lose.

Speaking during a TV interview on Wednesday, Ole Kina stated that Mariga should stick to football and should not assume that his football fans will automatically vote for him in the by-election set for November 7, 2019.

The outspoken Senator likened Mariga’s situation to that of a preacher who once thought his congregants would vote for him, adding that politics is a dirty game that is full of deceit.

“I think Kenyans sometimes we suffer from selective amnesia, the case of Mariga is no different from the one of another preacher who once thought he will convert his congregants into his voters, which never happened, that is the same thing that will happen to Mariga.

“Mariga should stick to what he does, people enjoy watching him play soccer...in politics there are liars who can promise you heaven which they don't deliver, if you (are) good in sports stick to sports and if you (are) good in politics just do politics," said the ODM senator.

This comes just days after activist Boniface Mwangi tore into the former Inter Milan midfielder, warning Kibra residents against voting for him.

He further claimed that Mariga contributed to the gambling menace in the country and was not a good example to the youth.

“Kibra people, learn from Starehe and Langata. They decided to elect socialites and they're now suffering. Mariga's contribution to the Kenyan youth was to get them addicted to gambling.

“He has billboards across Kenya promoting betting. Don't send such a person to parliament. BE wise,” said Mwangi.

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria also urged Mariga to focus on developing football talents in the country, saying he still has time to venture into politics.