PROFILE: Meet the 9 candidates in Nairobi Governor race

Nine candidates have thrown their hats in the ring in the highly competitive race to become Nairobi County's next governor.

With voting set to take place 28 days from now, the aspirants are continuously drumming up support for their individual bids ahead of the August 9 General Election.

Recent polls by Infotrak have revealed that approximately 24 percent of City residents are yet to settle on their preferred governor candidate.

On Monday, 4 PM, the 9 candidates gazetted by the IEBC in the Nairobi Governor contest will be presented to electorates in a debate to be aired by media houses across Kenya.

Here are the candidates eyeing the top Nairobi seat:

Johnson Sakaja

Incumbent Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja is said to be the most popular candidate according to a recent poll by Infotrak.

The 37-year-old’s political career started in 2005, when he actively participated in the referendum through his position as a student leader in University of Nairobi’s SONU.

His vibrancy would then earn him an appointment by TNA Party as a Member of Parliament in 2013.  This finally culminated into his stint as the Nairobi Senator under Uhuru Kenyatta-led Jubilee Party in 2017.

Under William Ruto-led UDA Party, Sakaja now seeks Nairobi’s top seat in a race that has been marred with barriers brought about by questions on his academic qualifications.

Polycarp Igathe

The 50-year-old is a Kenyan businessman, politician, and corporate executive, who acts as the Chief Commercial Officer in Equity Group Holdings.

As a corporate, Igathe has been seen as one who has a powerful God-father from the ease in which he hops from one job to another.

Straight out of the University of Nairobi in 1995, Igathe was employed as a Finance Officer in Australia and afterwards returned to Kenya where he took up a job at Coca Cola.

What followed was a sales job at Africa Online, Kenya Breweries Limited, and becoming a managing director at Haco industries, followed by Vivo Energy Kenya.

His first stab at politics was in 2017, when he was elected a deputy Governor of Nairobi in a ticket with Mike Sonko.

Six months after assuming office, Igathe would then leave city hall, citing lack of trust from his boss.

Four years later, Igathe is back to seeking the governor position in Nairobi County under Jubilee Party.

Agnes Kagure

She is an insurance executive and businesswoman, who is seeking the Nairobi Governor seat on an independent ticket.

The entrepreneur boasts of humble beginnings, having started off as a house help in Nairobi before finding her way into insurance world and making a big name.

Kagure, who was among the gubernatorial hopefuls eyeing a ticket from Jubilee Party did not back out of the race after the party announced Polycarp Igathe as its flag bearer.

Before her stab at the top seat, The Chiang Mai Rajabhat University graduate was among the candidates proposed by ex-Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko to take up the Deputy Governor slot after the exit of Polycarp Igathe.

Denise Kodhe

Kodhe is a seasoned journalist who has worked as a diplomat with the African Union. He was in-charge of an Organ and as Director-General of the Institute for Democracy and Leadership in Africa (IDEA for Africa).

The LDP Party flag bearer identifies as a philanthropist supporting orphans and needy children at Saidia Furaha Children’s Home.

Esther Waringa Thairu

She is the Chairperson of the Independent Candidates Forum of Kenya, and is seeking the Nairobi Gubernatorial seat on an independent ticket.

Harman Singh Grewal

The law expert is the youngest candidate in the Nairobi Governor race and identifies as a legal brand developer helping lawyers generate leads while educating citizens.

In the corporate world, Harman has served as a Co-founder Asilimia, Project Development Manager- Smart friends, Head Of Operations – We make Impact, Real Estate Manager – Jasar and a Teacher at Premier Academy, Nairobi.

The 25-year-old founder of Kenyan Law is seeking the gubernatorial seat under Safina Party of Kenya.

Kenneth Nyamwamu

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) party flag bearer in the Nairobi gubernatorial race is a Data Analyst and registered nurse.

He is largely based in the United States of America.

Nancy Wambui Mwadime

She has been a  Real Estate Developer at Costa Homes and is contesting for the city job under the Usawa Kwa Wote Party.

Cleophas Kiio Mutua

Seeking the governor seat under Ford Kenya Party, Mr Mutua is a former ICT Director at the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.