Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and his Ford Kenya counterpart Moses Wetangula on Friday, September 27, announced that they would be working together to win the Kibra by-election.
The move is likely to give the ODM candidate, Benard 'Imran' Okoth, who is largely considered the favourite, a fresh headache.
Daily Nation reported that the decision by the two, to gang up against Okoth, indicated the deteriorating relationship between the NASA principals.
Kalonzo announced that his party would support the Ford Kenya aspirant Engineer Khamisi Butichi.
During a meeting that was held at Wiper Party offices in Nairobi, Kalonzo disclosed that the decision to support Butichi was to reciprocate Ford Kenya’s decision not to field a candidate in the Embakasi South by-election, in which Wiper’s Julius Mawathe won the seat.
The two parties (Wiper and Ford Kenya) agreed to have Butichi officially endorsed by the Ford Kenya brigade which is expected to hold a proper event at Athi-River on Sunday, September 29.
The Bungoma senator, who was accompanied by Khamisi, the party’s deputy leader Richard Onyonka and Kwanza MP Ferdinand Wanyonyi, expressed confidence that their candidate would emerge victorious in the November 7 by-election.
“Our candidate is the strongest and from all the information gathered, I can assure my brother Kalonzo that this Kibra seat is no more a dream but we will carry the day,” Wetangula announced.
He further stated that contrary to reports that the Kibra election was a three-horse race between Imran, Jubilee candidate McDonald Mariga and ANC's Eliud Owalo, the Ford Kenya candidate was the man to beat in the race.
“Although some parties may have the political and financial might, we have a lot of support on the ground and our supporters will vote for us come November 7,” he added.
The Nation Media Group publication further reported that Wetang’ula and ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi have been under attack from Odinga’s allies, over their move to field candidates in the Kibra race, with ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna threatening to sever links with both parties citing “betrayal”.
