Former National Assembly speaker Kenneth Marende is today expected to announce his return to ODM and address his plan to contest for the Nairobi county gubernatorial seat.

The former Emuhaya MP yesterday held a meeting with party leader Raila Odinga at his home in Bondo.

If indeed Marende is going for Nairobi county’s gubernatorial seat, he will be facing off the incumbent Evans Kidero in the party nominations.

Critics have already started calling the former speaker a jubilee project, who is being used to come and bring divisions in ODM with others saying that he’s just being used to show democracy in ODM.

“He cannot just come and say he wants a ticket. He might be a jubilee project sent to split our votes to let their candidate win,” said Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa.

There are speculations however that he might just go to Vihiga County.

Marende, who first announced his plan to vie for governor Nairobi County in November last year, is popular among Kenyans across the board and is touted as the best speaker to have ever served in the parliament. He was the 6^th speaker of the national assembly and is often remembered for his wise rulings and charisma.

He has been serving as chairman of the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) since he ditched ODM in 2015for the United Democratic Party.

Jubilee party already has a long list of aspirants who will be battling for the party nomination. These include Nairobi senator Mike Sonko, nominated MP Johnson Sakaja, former Starehe Mp Rev Margaret Wanjiru and Peter Kenneth.