Aspiring MP Abandons ODM Ahead of By-Election

An image of Sharlet Akinyi
Mwambweni Constituency aspirant Sharlet Akinyi posing for a photo.
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With the Msambweni by-election heating up, an aspirant, Sharlet Akinyi, has tendered her resignation from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

In a letter dated Monday, September 21, seen by Kenyans.co.ke, Akinyi cited a number of reasons for her resignation from the party.

One of the reasons she gave was the evolving political landscape, especially as taking place in Msambweni Constituency's planned by-election.

An image of Sharlet Akinyi
Sharlet Akinyi during the installation service of A.I.C Nairobi area Bishop Joshua Nzau Kimuyu at Africa Inland Church, Ziwani, Nairobi County on Sunday 20 September 2020.
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She also highlighted the change required to bring the promise of a better future for the constituency's youthful population, and the place of women and youth in the party.

"I find myself at the point where I must pursue a different political path than the Orange Democratic Party as currently constituted.

"It is for this profound reason that I hereby tender my resignation, with immediate effect from the Orange Democratic Movement Party's register as seen in documents," reads her letter in part.

Akinyi also asked the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) to immediately delete her name from the party's books.

Sharlet raised eyebrows after attending the installation service of A.I.C Nairobi area Bishop Joshua Nzau Kimuyu, an event attended by Deputy President William Ruto on Sunday, September 20.

Her presence sparked rumours that she had decamped from ODM to the Jubilee Party ahead of the planned by-election.

Sharlet was absent from Chungwa House on Tuesday, September 22, as aspirants for the vacant seats continued to visit the party's headquarters to apply to take part in the nomination exercise.

As of Tuesday, September 22, only Omar Idd Boga and Nicholas Zani had submitted their applications for the forthcoming by-election.

ODM Party headquarters in Lavington, Nairobi
ODM Party headquarters in Lavington, Nairobi
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