Nairobi — Four bitter rivals were on Tuesday cleared by their parties to vie for the Starehe and Makadara parliamentary seats in Nairobi.

In the PNU corner are Maina Kamanda (Starehe) and Dick Wathika (Makadara) while in the Orange corner are ODM's Margaret Wanjiru and Reuben Ndolo.

All four got direct nominations from their parties.

The two seats fell vacant following successful petitions against Ms Wanjiru and Mr Wathika.

ODM's youthful Lindy Ajiambo Wafula, 33, jumped ship to little-known Nuru Party after failing to secure the party's nod in Makadara.

Ms Wafula who has a masters in Global Political Science and Communication for Development was given her certificate by Nuru Party executive officer Benson Makori. She vowed to give the big parties a run for their money.

Dr Misoi said although a number of candidates had expressed interest for the Makadara and Starehe by-elections, Mr Ndolo and Bishop Wanjiru were favoured because of commitment, contribution and loyalty to the party.

PNU executive director Jasper Nyamboga said it is under PNU rules to give direct nominations to MPs who lose their seats so long as it was not their fault.

DP vice-chairman Rishad Amana later said the party had prepared a certificate for businessman Jimnah Mbaru to represent it in Starehe, but he was yet to pick it up.

On Tuesday, businessman Jackson Mwangi was given the nod by Narc-Kenya to run in Starehe. Mr Mike Mbuvi Kioko alias Sonko is expected to be Narc-Kenya's flag-bearer in Makadara.

Parties will present names

The parties will present the names of the candidates to the Interim Independent Electoral Commission Wednesday and Thursday.

Mr Mwangi and Ms Wafula said they would present their nomination papers on Wednesday while Mr Kamanda will do so on Thursday.

Bishop Wanjiru said ODM respected the work she had done in Starehe.

The Starehe parliamentary seat fell vacant after Bishop Wanjiru's election was quashed over irregularities while malpractices were also found in the election of Mr Wathika in Makadara. The two had been appointed assistant ministers.

The seats are crucial especially for ODM and PNU, which have been fighting for the control of the city and for their numerical strength in Parliament.

ODM lost the first by-election in Nairobi after the 2007 polls following the death of Mugabe Were who was replaced by PNU's Ferdinard Waititu. Kamukunji's Simon Mbugua has also been challenged in court.

ODM currently controls Lang'ata, Westlands and Kasarani while PNU has Dagoretti, Kamukunji and Embakasi.