In Summary
- Mr Hassan was given a direct ticket by The National Alliance (TNA) to defend the seat he won two years ago in a by-election.
Bed-ridden former Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan on Thursday left hospital for three and a half hours and presented his nomination papers to electoral commission officials as he sought re-election.
Mr Hassan, who was on a wheelchair, left Aga Khan Hospital at 10am and headed to Pumwani Social Hall where he was cleared to run for a parliamentary seat.
Hundreds of supporters blocked Eastleigh roads to have a glimpse of Mr Hassan as several women from Majengo and Gikomba estates sobbed on seeing him.
Other youths, donning his campaign T-shirts, cleared the way as they chanted slogans.
Mr Hassan was given a direct ticket by The National Alliance (TNA) to defend the seat he won two years ago in a by-election.
After being injured in a grenade attack in Eastleigh on December 7, Mr Hassan was flown to South Africa but came back to the country in time for the TNA nominations.
The party, however, decided to give him a direct ticket.
When he addressed the crowd, the politician pleaded with the constituents to re-elect him so that he could finish development projects he started last year.
Appeal for votes
Although it was not clear when he would be discharged, the former lawmaker said he would soon be back to Kamukunji to make a final appeal for their votes.
“We have ongoing water, sanitation and road projects. They will be complete very soon. Be patient,” said Mr Hassan. After he was cleared, Mr Hassan’s convoy headed back to the hospital shortly before 2pm.
Elsewhere, business woman Mary Wambui was finally cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to contest the Othaya parliamentary seat on a TNA ticket.
Ms Wambui presented her papers to Othaya returning officer James Mbai on Thursday and was given the go-ahead to contest the seat that falls vacant after 38 years of being held by President Kibaki.
The business woman last week caused commotion at the IEBC headquarters in Nairobi after her party handed the nomination certificate to a loser, Mr Gichuki Mugambi, in their January 17 primaries.
The incident also sparked two days of demonstrations in Othaya town.
Ms Wambui, who was accompanied by Nairobi women’s representative candidate Rachel Shebesh, thanked the residents of Othaya for showing confidence in her leadership.
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