Former Raila aide Eliud Owalo to vie for Kibra MP seat after leaving ODM

Former ODM party strategist Eliud Owalo has officially declared his candidature for the Kibra parliamentary seat on an Amani National Congress (ANC) party ticket.

Owalo, who quit the Raila Odinga-led ODM party three weeks ago, expressed optimism that he has vast experience to reform the lives of Kibra residents.

Speaking after being unveiled by the ANC party, led by Musalia Mudavadi, Mr. Owalo averred that he will focus on empowerment to the locals to alleviate the level of poverty among other key sectors.

Several ANC legislators led by Ayub Savula have vowed to strongly support Owalo to ensure he clinches the seat in the by-election slated for November 7.

ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi said Owalo is the most suited candidate to take over the seat which fell vacant following the death of Ken Okoth.

Owalo resigned from the the ODM on August 13, saying his “political ideology, convictions and belief” are no longer in line with those of the party.

“It is with great regret that I write to inform you that I have with immediate effect relinquished my membership of the Orange Democratic Movement Party (ODM).

“My resignation is informed by the fact that my political ideology, convictions and belief no longer has convergence or depict any congruence and common denominator with that of the ODM Party; its value-orientation and practices,” said Owalo in a letter addressed to ODM and the registrar of political parties.

In the 2013 elections, Mr. Owalo, who runs a management consultant firm, worked as ODM leader Raila Odinga’s presidential campaign manager.