Kenya: Ex Inter Milan midfielder McDonald Mariga to vie in Kenyan by – elections

Former Inter Milan midfielder McDonald Mariga has been nominated to contest in the upcoming Kibra Constituency parliamentary by elections in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi

The constituency includes Kibera, the nation’s biggest slum

Mariga won the nomination as the Jubilee Party candidate, the party of president Uhuru Kenyatta after an interview with party hierarchy on Monday

Mariga who is the most decorated East African footballer of all time won the Uefa champions league, Italian Serie A and Coppa Italia trophies at Inter Milan under Jose Mourinho in 2010

Injuries cut short the midfielder’s illustrious career. He last played as a professional at Spanish lower tier side Real Oviedo in 2017

The 32 year old ex footballer told journalists he was joining politics to ” give back to the community”

The by – election will be held in November. The seat became vacant following the death of member of parliament Kenneth Okoth of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party

Raila Odinga’s led Orange Democratic Movement has predominantly been voted for in the constituency since 2013

He became the latest spotsman to go into politics after top marathon runner Wesley Korir served as a member of parliament between 2013 to 2017

Famous African sportsman to also go into politics is ex footballer and former Fifa world footballer of the year, George Weah, who is now the president of Liberia

By: Kanyiri Suburu Lucio/@SuburuAbdulai