ODM party candidate in Kibra by-election Imran Okoth could be headed for an earlier lead after popular Rift Valley politician Zedekiah Bundotich alias Buzeki threw his weight behind his candidature.
Buzeki, who felt out with Deputy President William Ruto in May 2019 has currently been out of most political scenes leaving his supporters wondering whether the influential businessman had quietly leaped back to Ruto’s camp.
But on Sunday, Buzeki, who ditched William Ruto for Isaac Rutto’s Chama Cha Mashinani party, announced that he was fully behind Imran Okoth’s candidature in Kibra owing to the fact that Imran successfully ran the constituency when his brother Kenn Okoth was sick and outside the country seeking medication.
“IMRAN kept KIBRA going when KEN was sick. Endelea Na KAZI . Tai ole Tai (Continue with the work. Forever forward),” posted Buzeki on his Twitter account.
IMRAN kept KIBRA going when KEN was sick. Endelea Na KAZI . 👉Tai pic.twitter.com/aNr8jZD6xs
— Buzeki Kiprop Bundotich-OGW (@BuzekiKiprop) November 3, 2019
The businessman, in May 2019, confirmed he had quit Jubilee and that he was charting his own political way ahead of the 2022 elections.
Later, Buzeki who had worked closely with the DP in the 2017 polls and was considered to be his preferred candidate for the Uasin Gishu seat, announced that he had settled for CCM party.
He vied for the Uasin Gishu Governor seat in 2017 but lost to Jackson Mandago in the Jubilee nominations after which he vied as an independent candidate.
Buzeki’s announcement comes three days after another MP from the Rift Valley who had gone silent, Alfred Keter, dismissed Ruto’s call to campaign for Jubilee candidate, Macdonald Mariga in Kibra.
On Wednesday evening, Keter shared a screenshot of a text message from DP Ruto, asking him and other MPs to help the Jubilee candidate McDonald Mariga as he contests the Kibra by-election.
“Members, as you are aware, there is a general election happening in Kibra. We need 75 MPs to help as agents to protect Mariga’s Jubilee vote. Please register by tomorrow Thursday, 31st October by 3 pm,” the SMS stated and was signed as “William Ruto Deputy Leader, Jubilee.”
Keter proceeded to share the message on social media and blasted the DP for asking him to support Mariga whom he described as a non-starter.
“No amount of lobbying nor intimidation is going to make me support a non starter like Mariga who has never voted in his life and is not even from Kibra period!!! #Kwendeni uko,” Keter stated.
Kibra by-election is slated for November 7, 2019, and has already attracted a total of 24 aspirants with Jubilee, ODM and ANC parties currently locking horns for the seat.