Intrigues of DP Rutos hand in Kolosh win at Wajir West by-election

Jubilee party candidate Ahmed Kolosh won the Wajir West parliamentary by-election on Friday morning.

The former Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) member got 11,053 votes as his closest rival Sheikh Ibrahim (KANU) came a distant second with 6,532 votes.

Also Read: Wajir leaders credit Ruto, contradict Jubilee and ODM on Wajir West by-election

Kolosh decamped from ODM after the Supreme Court nullified his election in January 2019.

A month later, Deputy President William Ruto received Kolosh at the Jubilee party headquarters and announced that he would be their frontrunner in the Wajir West by-election.

“As we welcome you to our party, we want to assure you that we will campaign for you to win,” Dr Ruto said at the time.

The Wajir West seat fell vacant following a successful petition filed by Abdirahman Ibrahim Mohammed of KANU.

ODM had intended to field another candidate Prof. Mohamed Yussuf but pulled out at the last minute after what they termed as ‘consultations’ with the Jubilee party leaders.

“Just as Jubilee did in the three recent by-elections, ODM will not take sides in the contest in Wajir West,” a letter from Junet Mohammed, the party’s Director of Elections said.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission had even cleared their candidate to contest for the seat.

However, the party indicated that they had convinced Prof. Yusuf to step down for Kolosh.

In a twist of events, Yusuf denied the claims from his party and was backed by a section of leaders from Wajir.

Also Read: Wajir leaders say ODM did not convince Prof. Elmi to step down from by-election

A statement from the Degodia community released on April 10, 2019 insisted that the Wajir community consulted with DP Ruto on their own.

“The decision had nothing to do with the ODM party or any of its functionaries, as some would allege….We, as leaders from the region do not condone deceit and/or conmanship.

“The efforts of the community cannot be taken for granted or rubbished by those who do not know the hours, energy and resources put in this,” the statement from the political and business leaders said.

On his part, Prof. Yusuf echoed the sentiments of this community leaders deciding to announce that he had defected to the Jubilee party.

Interestingly, he made the announcement after a meeting at the DP’s Karen on April 9, 2019.

Two other candidates –  Ali Noor Abdi (Labour Party of Kenya) and Abass Nonow Shihaw (Agano Party) – apparently also agreed to step down and support the Jubilee flag bearer after meeting DP Ruto.