Embakasi East ODM ticket attracts fierce contest

Nairobi, being Kenya’s most strategic and influential county, in regards to the country’s politics, political parties have laid out plans to clinch a majority of the elective seats in the city come August 8 General Election.

The opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party is keen on retaining not only the Embakasi East seat but a majority of constituencies in the city. A total of seven aspirants in Embakasi East will be looking to clinch the much-coveted ODM ticket, against the incumbent, John Omondi Ogutu.

They include four-term Students of University of Nairobi Union (SONU) Chairman, Babu Owino, Mr. Francis Masinde, Mr. George Butto, Mr. Boniface Nyagaka Mosoti, Mr. Joash Omwenga, Mr. Phillip Bosire, and Mr. Nyamasi Lukas Baridi.

A majority of political pundits say student leader-cum-politician, Babu Owino, is likely to clinch the ticket despite fierce rivalry from Francis Masinde Wekesa. The two are said to be the most influential in the region especially among the youth.

In the 2013 General Election, BabuOwino contested for the Westland’s Parliamentary seat but lost in ODM nominations to the current MP, Tim Wanyonyi.

Recently, Mr. Wekesa was attacked by his opponents and voters after visiting Kayole, a low-income area, using a chopper.

Voting is currently underway and Masinde is optimistic that he will carry the day saying that he is the only aspirant from Embakasi East and that all his rivals do no hail from the constituency. He has also expressed his confidence that the primaries will be free and fair.

The ODM nominee will then face-off with Jubilee’s 30-year-old Francis Mureithi in the August polls.