Raila Odinga's ODM party's efforts to retain the Kibera constituency seat got a big boost after three of Mudavadi's key allies switched allegiance and promised to support Raila's candidate in the upcoming by-elections.
The Standard reported on Monday, September 30, that the three legislators; Nominated MP Godfrey Otsotsi, Vihiga Senator George Khaniri, and his Kakamega counterpart Cleopas Malala are set to campaign for Imran Okoth, the ODM candidate in the Kibra mini-polls slated for November 7.
Otsotsi announced that after consultations with some members of the ANC, they saw it wise to support Imran Okoth given that he stood a better chance if the Luhya community rallied behind him.
He also alleged that supporting the ODM candidate was a polite way of showing gratitude to Raila since a majority of ANC lawmakers were members of various Parliamentary Committees due to ODM's influence.
Otsotsi also called into question his party leader's motive of fielding Eliud Owalo, accusing him of not doing it in good faith but in a bid to frustrate reconciliation efforts between Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta.
"It is not about the seat but the people keen on settling political scores with Raila as well as to try to frustrate the handshake," he was quoted.
The three ANC legislators have joined the growing list of other non-ODM politicians who have joined hands to drum up support for the late Ken Okoth's brother Imran Okoth.
He currently enjoys support from key Jubilee politicians, among them nominated Maina Kamanda, Youth and Gender Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Rachel Shebesh, and Nairobi Speaker Beatrice Elachi.
The Kibra battle, which is seen more as a flexing of muscles between ODM leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto, still rages on with each seeking to get an edge over the other.
Ruto on Sunday, September 29, speaking in Uasin Gishu during a fundraiser, attacked Raila's claims about his grip on Kibra, stating that the community was still wallowing in abject poverty yet Odinga had been in and out of government several times.
“I was shocked when an individual laid claim that Kibra is their political bedroom and the region did not even have toilets and locals are grappling with dire sanitation challenges. It is the Jubilee government that built roads and public toilets in Kibra,” Ruto claimed.
He rallied support for the Jubilee candidate McDonald Mariga, claiming that he was the best candidate to bring change in Kibra constituency.
