Imran Okoth, the younger brother to fallen Kibra MP Ken Okoth has emerged as the early favorite to fill in the big shoes left by the politician who succumbed to cancer last month.
The Okoth family had asked ODM leader Raila Odinga to endorse one of them to complete the good work left by their kin.
ODM chair John Mbadi has confirmed that the party has received the family request and will respond to it in due time.
“That is a decision that the party will take at the appropriate time. National Executive Council is the one mandated to make the decision. I will chair NEC at the appropriate time and discuss the way forward and give directions on what to do,” Mbadi told a local daily.
Ken Okoth will be remembered for his role in promoting education in one of the world’s largest slums. He constructed more than seven schools during his short tenure at the helm of the constituency.
His brother Imran helped the celebrated legislator run the constituency as his Personal Assistant. Imran played a crucial role in running the constituency in the past three years when Ken was battling the dreaded colorectal cancer in Europe.
Imran Okoth, brother to the late Kibra MP Ken Okoth, recounts how Ken broke the news of his cancer diagnosis to him. pic.twitter.com/RTSGFRRpVB
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) August 1, 2019
He, therefore, knew every plan that Ken had for Kibra and was instrumental in the construction of Mbagathi High School which was developed from scratch using CDF funds.
The family believes that Raila’s party will hand a direct nomination to Imran having done the same to Moses Kajwang the brother to former Homabay Senator Otieno Kajwang and Juma Boy Junior, who replaced his father as Kwale governor.
Imran Okoth. Your next Kibra MP. Take it to the bank, or leave it. Katambe
— Liberal Pothead 🇰🇪 (@Iampapalizmo) August 4, 2019
But Imran will face a tough battle to endear himself to the people of Kibra having played a crucial role in the cremation of his late brother. Family members led by their mother Angelina Ajwang were opposed to the idea of cremation and wanted Ken’s remains to be interred in Kabondo Kasipul.
But Imran and Ken’s widow Monica Okoth cremated the politician in the wee hours of Saturday morning. We wait to see how all this will play out.