Kibra MP seat: Showdown looms as 26 ODM aspirants to face off in Saturday nominations

By Erick Omondi

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) will on Saturday August 31, 2019 hold its nominations ahead of the Kibra Member of Parliament by-election.

ODM leader Raila Odinga made the announcement on Sunday at a rally in Kibra in which he also revealed that at least 26 aspirants will battle it out for the party ticket.

Among those expected to seek the ODM ticket in the race include: Benson Musungu (ODM National Youth Coordinator), Imran Okoth (late MP Ken Okoth brother and PA), Reggae DJ Kriss Darlin, Sigar Agumba, Peter Orero (Dagoretti High School Principal), and Ochieng Jera.

Former Embakasi South MP Irshad Sumra, who was earlier reported to have also been seeking the party ticket, however said “I am not in the race” adding that “I only came because I support Kibra and I love Kibra.”

Mr. Odinga’s daughter Rosemary Odinga who was also in attendance joined Mr. Sumra saying she would also not be in the race.

“I will not be able to vie in Kibra, but I wanted to come here today to greet and talk to you and to say I will keep interacting with you to the end,” said Ms. Odinga.

Among legislators who attended the rally included Anthony Oluoch (Mathare), Tom Kajwang (Ruaraka), George Aladwa (Makadara), Simba Arati (Dagoretti North) and Esther Passaris (Nairobi Woman Rep.)

ODM Kibra branch chairman Jeckonia Onyango had earlier urged the party’s National Elections Board to conduct free and fair nominations ahead of the upcoming November 7, 2019 by-election.

The Kibra MP seat fell vacant after MP Ken Okoth succumbed to cancer on July 26, 2019.