Did President Uhuru Really Endorse PK For Nairobi Governor? (VIDEO).

Jubilee Party's Nairobi Gubernatorial Aspirant Peter Kenneth (PK) and Party Leader President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Controversy has rocked the ruling Jubilee Party after a section of the media reported that President Uhuru Kenyatta has endorsed Peter Kenneth (PK) for the Nairobi seat ahead of the Jubilee primaries.

Speaking in Kirwara on Saturday after attending the funeral of the late Thika business magnate, Mzee William Gatuhi Murathe, the father of Jubilee Party vice-chairman David Murathe, Uhuru asked the voters to support him and pray for ‘their son’ Kenneth in the coming election.

“Na muhoere njamba ino yanyu nigetha Nairobi nayo igakihotana,” (You should also pray for your man here so that he wins in Nairobi) the President said, to cheers from the crowds, who then demanded that PK be given the chance to speak.

“We are saying that when the nominations come, it is you (the electorate) who will make the decision. Nobody should come here and use someone’s name to say they have been endorsed. Whoever you select will be the person we support,” said President Kenyatta at a stopover in Kirwara in Gatanga.

This statement is what is now being interpreted to mean that Peter Kenneth was a direct preference of President Uhuru Kenyatta who heads the Jubilee Party.

Peter Ken in turn said that he would continue to fight for the ticket in Nairobi and asked the residents to support President Kenyatta.

“Nii ningurua Nairobi ni getha riria ndirigiukaga gucera mugakiona gavana wa Nairobi” (I will fight in Nairobi, and then when I come to visit here you can see the governor of Nairobi), PK said.

Peter Kenneth had represented the constituency till 2013 when he bid for the presidency and came a distant fourth.

In a quick rejoinder, the president has categorically denied endorsing PK for the city’s top job.

In a statement to the media this morning, Jubilee Party said that the Head of State has pledged to remain neutral.

“Our attention has been drawn to media reports suggesting that His Excellency the President, in his role as the leader of the Jubilee Party, has indicated support for a candidate in the Nairobi gubernatorial race. These reports are untrue,” the party said in a statement signed by Secretary General Raphael Tuju.

“The President has not endorsed any candidate, believing that Nairobi Jubilee members will make their choice in a free, fair and credible process at the nominations.”

PK is facing a tough battle for the Jubilee ticket against flamboyant Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko and former Starehe MP Bishop Margaret Wanjiru. The winner of the Jubilee ticket will battle it out with incumbent Evans Kidero who has already received a direct ticket from ODM to contest for the seat.