Orange Democratic Movement has reacted aggressively after Jubilee's Kibra flag bearer McDonald Mariga's was barred from contesting for the seat by IEBC.
According to reports by NTV, Mariga's name was missing from voters register, which consequently implied that he did not meet the minimum requirements to vie for the Kibra parliamentary seat.
On Tuesday, September 10, while speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on phone, the party's Director of Communications, Philip Etale, lashed back at Jubilee's plot to introduce Mariga into the race.
"It is not a boost to ODM at all. As a party, we were not even bothered about Mariga. He is not and will not be on our radar," Etale stated.
He went on to insist that they were not scared of Jubilee as ODM had laid an elaborate plan on clinching the seat.
"We care about retaining the seat which belongs to the ODM party. We are going to hit the ground harder than ever before and our candidate (Imran Okoth) will emerge victorious," Etale asserted.
Etale, further took to social media to remind Jubilee of the same scheme they used to ouster their candidate in 2013, during the Makueni Senatorial seat.
"Six years ago, the same clowns fought hard to block Kethi Kilonzo from vying for the Makueni Senatorial seat on grounds that she was not a registered voter.
They made noise and even called her names. The same clauses of the constitution were quoted then," Etale mocked.
Embakasi East MP, Babu Owino also took to social media to celebrate Mariga's invalidation.
"Vitu ni different kwa ground! (The situation on the ground is different) Congratulations Hon Imran," Babu wrote on Twitter.
Mariga had rushed to beat the IEBC deadline to present his nomination certificate but was deemed unqualified, as the election body claimed that he was not a registered voter.
The race remains open to National Super Alliance (NASA) and its affiliates as ODM's Imran will face former ODM strategist Eliud Owalo fielded by Musalia Mudavadi's ANC, Khamisi Butichi (Ford Kenya) and Ukweli Party's Editar Ochieng among others.
