BY FRED MAKANA
Businesswoman Agnes Kagure has submitted her nomination papers at the Jubilee Party headquarters and has exuded confidence of clinching the party’s ticket in the Nairobi gubernatorial race and eventually winning the coveted Capital City seat.
Kagure presented her nomination shortly after 3 pm where she also promised to give her competitors a run for their money owing to her impressive record in her previous engagements.
On Tuesday after presenting her nomination papers Kagure said Jubilee party remains strong and will win the city’s topmost seat.
“It is clear Jubilee party is rising to conquer and take its rightful place in Kenyan politics. In the spirit of women breaking biases and barriers, we will surely win the gubernatorial race in Nairobi,” Kagure said in a statement.
The businesswoman pledged in January that City askaris commonly known as ‘Kanjo’ will have to undergo fresh training on customer care, if she is successful in her bid to become the third Governor of Nairobi.
Kagure joins MPs Tim Wanyonyi (Westlands), Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi Senator), Jesus Is Alive Ministries Founder Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, and President for Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Richard Ngatia who have declared their interest in unseating incumbent Anne Kananu in the August 9 elections.
Kagure is eying an Azimio La Umoja nomination ticket under Jubilee Party that has also attracted Ngatia.
Just like Nairobians, Kagure said she is fed up with how the askaris harass traders anyone they accuse of breaking the city by-laws.
“We are going to take the Kanjo back for retraining. We are also going to review their contracts, so we have so many job opportunities that we are going to review,” she said.
The businesswoman has also pledged to dedicate her life to move Nairobi from ‘the city of lamentation to the city of jubilation.’
Kagure who has had experience first hand of both worlds as a house-help to becoming a serial best seller of insurance across the country maintains she knows the city’s problems and how to tackle them.
“In my lifetime I have experienced both the disgrace and the majesty of Nairobi in equal measure,” she said, “Having lived in Mathare and Dandora I can identify with slum dwellers who at times have to go bed hungry, have to contend with forcible evictions or mysterious fires in the slum.”
She observed that the sweat, innovation, and dedication of citizens operating different businesses and industries hold the country’s economy together.
“I am confident that I am the catalyst that will trigger the journey of a new vibrant and more rewarding Nairobians,” Kagure stated.
Kagure has promised to focus on providing clean water supply, good sanitation and reliable healthcare services in the city.
“Clean drinking water is a safe bet for better hygiene and access to it has a different impact on the quality of human health. An unhealthy cannot optimise its economic productivity,” Kagure said.
