Opposition Chief Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto’s political supremacy battle played out in a high-stakes cat and mouse game over the upcoming Wajir West by-election that saw the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) withdrawing from the contest.
This comes hot on the heels of the Raila-led Orange party’s double loss in the Embakasi South and Ugenya mini-polls. In the aftermath of the loss, pro-Ruto allies primed it as a victory for the DP to the chagrin of the Opposition chief and Orange party.
And yesterday the mischievous political schemes crept into the Wajir West by-election set for April 25 with indications the ODM leadership moved fast to pull off a fast on Ruto after word went round that their candidate, Mohammed Elmi Yusuf, had led a delegation to the DP’s Karen residence.
It is alleged that their mission was to quit and back the Jubilee man, Ahmed Kolosh— a plot that would not have only embarrassed Raila, but earned Ruto political victory in their supremacy battle ahead of the 2022 State House race.
In a statement to newsrooms, the ODM party said it was reciprocating Jubilee’s gesture of pulling out of Migori, Embakasi South and Ugenya contests.
“The Orange Democratic Movement wishes to communicate to its members that it will not participate in the upcoming Wajir-West by-election scheduled for April 25, as earlier announced,” said Director of Elections Junet Mohamed.
He said the party arrived at the decision following consultations with the top leadership of the Jubilee Party.
“Just as Jubilee did in the three recent by-elections, ODM will not take sides in the contest in Wajir West. We wish victory to the best candidate,” Junet said.
Eldas MP Adan Keynan said the move would strengthen the clan, and unite the people of Wajir. “We have opted as a community that we cannot be divided along ethnic lines.
We will support the Jubilee candidate because we are after transforming Wajir,” said Keynan.