News that the Orange Democratic Movement, ODM had decided to withdraw it’s candidate from the Wajir West by-elections was met with mixed reactions with ODM Supporters apparently angered by the move while Jubilee Supporters said that ODM had demonstrated a great level of cowardice.
According to ODM, the decision to withdraw from the April 25th by-election was made after wide consultations between the Jubilee Party & ODM who agreed to reciprocate Jubilee’s earlier gesture not to field candidates in by elections held in Ugenya & Embakasi South.
It has howevetr emerged that ODM had to move fast after learning that Ruto was hosting Yusuf for a luncheon at his Karen residence.
“Our candidate Yusuf together with his delegation from the Degodia clan is being hosted for lunch by DP Ruto,” an ally of the ODM candidate said before ODM withdrew from the race. According to the source, it was after the meeting with DP that Elmi wrote to the party to withdraw from the poll.
IEBC cleared five candidates to contest in the Wajir West by-election. Other candidates were Kolosh (Jubilee Party), Daud Mohammed (Ford Kenya), Ibrahim Mohamud (Kanu) and Abbas Nunow (Agano).
Kolosh is immediate former MP for Wajir West. The Supreme Court nullified his victory after a successful petition by Mohamud of Kanu.
It is expected Kolosh will easily sail through to recapture his seat after his defection. On Friday, Uhuru hosted Kolosh at State House accompanied by Majority Leader Aden Duale.
Ruto said the withdrawal of Prof Yusuf should not be seen as a move to back up the Jubilee candidate but a bold step that would develop Wajir.
“It is not about this or that political candidate but the future of Wajir,” he said.
Since the double loss, the Orange party has become a laughing stock after failing to clinch Ugenya and Embakasi south parliamentary seats in the mini-polls.