Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Wiper, all from the National Super Alliance (NASA), is set to be witnessed in the run-up to Embakasi South by-election.
This is after Court of Appeal and Supreme Court nullified the election of Wiper’s Julius Mawathe following a successful petition by former area MP Irshad Sumra of ODM, with now all parties vowing to have their candidates in the repeat polls.
In an address to the press, Wiper ex-director Henry Rop and former Embakasi East National Assembly seat aspirant Fred Musau strongly differed with ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna’s statement that all NASA affiliate parties should forgo presenting a candidate in favour of Sumra. The officials lambasted Sifuna, terming his statements selfish, petty and childish.
They vowed never to withdraw from presenting a candidate despite Jubilee party announcing it would not field candidates in the spirit of handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga. Rop and Musau stated there was no such agreement in NASA, saying the coalition had been detached since Raila’s mock swearing in as people’s president on Tuesday, January 30.
“It is selfish to tell us not to field a candidate when ODM itself got several elective seats in other constituencies. Sifuna should have been logical enough to tell Sumra to step down for Mawathe because he was the only Wiper party MP in the vast Nairobi county.” said Rop.
Musau denied there was any such agreement to have a Wiper candidate step down for Sumra, saying Sifuna’s sentiments were an insult to supporters of Kalonzo Musyoka’s party.
The Wiper and NASA diaspora coordinator argued that Mawathe had begun establishing a commendable service delivery track record and needed an opportunity to finish the good works he had started. “Wiper supported ODM to clinch National Assembly seats in Mathare, Ruaraka, Makadara, Embakasi East and Dagoretti North.
We withdrew our candidates in support of them. It should be their time to reciprocate by withdrawing and leaving Mawathe to retain his seat,” said Musau.