In a gazette notice dated 16th August 2019, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commissions IEBC has announced that the Kibra constituency by-election will be held on November 7, 2019.
The seat fell vacant following the death of the sitting Member of Parliament Ken Okoth, who succumbed to colorectal cancer.
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi officially declared the seat vacant on Wednesday 14th August 2019.
This was in line with Article 101 (4) of the Constitution stipulates that whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of an elected member of the National Assembly or Senate, the respective Speaker shall, within 21 days after the occurrence of the vacancy, give notice in writing of the vacancy to the electoral commission.
The ODM party is widely expected to retain that seat.
Mr. Oduor Ong’wen, the Orange Democratic Movement's executive director had earlier intimated that there were no favorites for the by-election and assured interested candidates of fairness during the nomination process.
“At the moment we don’t know if there is anybody who has declared an interest because we have not invited applications,” he had stated on Wednesday 7th during the second Kisumu County ODM Delegates Convention. Reports, however, have it that there are over 20 ODM candidates who have so far expressed interest in the seat.
Residents of Kibra recently took to the streets demanding for an insider candidate amid speculation that the ODM party would impose a candidate on them.
The family of the late MP wants Mr. Odinga to endorse Imran Okoth, MP Okoth's former personal assistant and step-brother.
“The party Constitution allows for the electoral college, consensus, competitive primaries and a direct ticket,” Mr. Ong’wen.
He maintained that after the party's retreat, they would decide upon the best way to nominate a candidate for that seat.
Others expected to take part include Mr. Odinga's former aide Eliud Owallo, who unsuccessfully challenged Mr. Okoth for the ODM nomination in the last election; Ketta Onyango, who was responsible for the Constituency Development Fund when Mr. Odinga was Lang'ata MP; and former Sarang’ombe MCA Pius K’Otieno.
The Jubilee Party is yet to state whether it will field a candidate or not.
Candidates intending to participate in the by-election and those seeking to run as independent candidates will have until 26th of August 2019 to present their names and symbols that they intend to use during the campaign and election period.
