This archive report was first published on 31 July 2019.
Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi has thrown his hat into the ring for the Nairobi governorship in the 2022 general election, with a vision to transform the city into a thriving metropolis.
Wanyonyi, who has been representing Westlands constituency in Parliament for two terms, believes his experience as MP and former councillor of the defunct City Council of Nairobi between 2007 and 2012 has prepared him for the top job.
He cites the endorsement of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who has publicly expressed his support for Wanyonyi's bid, as a significant boost to his campaign.
“One of my biggest fans is the (former) Prime Minister (Raila Odinga) himself. He has not once but twice spoken about it in public, not even in private,” Wanyonyi told Nairobi News in 2018.
Wanyonyi plans to run Nairobi like a corporate entity, similar to London and Mumbai, and vows to enhance the appeal of public transport to decongest the city.
He also promises to shake up the status quo and deliver self-explanatory results to the people of Nairobi.
Wanyonyi's probable opponent will be incumbent Governor Mike Sonko, who has appealed to sections of the city for his two-year stint at City Hall.
Wanyonyi acknowledges the challenge posed by Sonko, but remains confident in his ability to outwit and outwork the incumbent.
He has begun his governorship campaigns quietly, without antagonizing Sonko, and vows to remain the Westlands MP until the last day of his term.
Wanyonyi, a lawyer, was left with an irreversible spine injury after an encounter with carjackers in 1998, but refuses to be dwarfed by his reduced elevation.
