The former chairperson of Nairobi Stock Exchange and one time Nairobi gubernatorial aspirant Jimnah Mbaru has issued a statement denouncing having met the UDA gubernatorial candidate Johnson Sakaja.

In a statement he issued on Friday, Mbaru said his attention was drawn to an article on a local daily in which Sakaja alleged to have held a meeting with him to interview him for the position of deputy governor of Nairobi.

“My attention has been drawn to a feature article on the Daily Nation dated 27th April 2022, in which Hon. Sakaja Johnson alleges that I held a meeting with him to participate in an interview process for the position of Deputy Governor, Nairobi County,” Mbaru said.

Mbaru clarified he has never met Sakaja nor his representative for the purported interview and strongly emphasised that he does not support Sakaja’s candidature.

“I would like to clarify that I have never met Hon. Sakaja or his representatives for an interview or any other procedure or process related to the Nairobi County gubernatorial race. I wish to spell out respectfully, but clearly that I do not support the candidature of Hon. Sakaja Johnson for the position of Governor, Nairobi County,” he said.

Jimnah further distanced himself from Deputy President William Ruto-led United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.

“Let me also take this opportunity to emphasize that am NOT a member of the UDA Party,” he emphasised.

He expressed his confidence in the people of Nairobi expressing their will at the ballot on whom they want to be the next governor of Nairobi and wished all candidates in the August election the best.