Taj Mall owner now joins race to replace Mike Sonko

dennis kibet 14:59 - 20 March 2017

Taj Mall owner Ramesh Gorasia and Jeff Ambundo, a tenant, address the press on October 8, 2015.

Ramesh Gorasia has announced that he will vie for Nairobi Senator on a Wiper Party ticket.

The Taj Mall owner has now thrown his hat in the race to become Nairobi’s next senator.

He will now contest against nominated MP Johnson Sakaja who recently stepped down from the gubernatorial race and declared his Nairobi Senatorial candidature on a Jubilee Party ticket.

Former National Assembly speaker Kenneth Marende has also been widely rumoured to be vying for Nairobi Senator but on a National Super Alliance (Nasa) ticket.

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka last week gave Gorasia a clean bill of health ahead of the primaries slated for April.

City injustices

Gorasia on Monday told a local daily that he wants to tackle the vices and injustices city residents have been subjected to for many years.

“There are many problems that the people of Nairobi are facing. Land grabbing, high cost of doing business and corruption are just some of them,” Gorasia said.

He added that the city deserves better services that can only be spearheaded by “non-tribal and visionary” leaders.

“We want to change the style of leadership in Nairobi. We want people-oriented leadership,” he said.

Gorasia has been involved in a bitter land dispute with the government over the multi-billion mall from demolition after the National Land Commission said part of it was standing on the road reserve.

Late last year, a senior Nairobi City County government was charged with soliciting a Sh6.5 million bribe from Gorasia to facilitate the transfer of a disputed plot in Embakasi, Nairobi.