With only eight days remaining to the historic Kibra constituency by-election, Jubilee candidate Macdonald Mariga could be headed for an earlier conquer after a number of ANC youths dumped Eliud Owalo to join Mariga’s team.
Announcing the step on Wednesday, former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale who was in Kibra to drum up support for Mariga, said more than 200 ANC youths in the constituency had crossed over to Mariga’s camp.
The bullfighter who had accompanied Mariga, Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa and Starehe’s Charles Njaguar on a campaign tour to Kenyatta Market and Laini Saba Ward, expressed confidence that the support was going to favour their candidate as he prepares to face the rest in the mini poll.
“Together with Hon Njagwa (Starehe) & @DidmusWaBarasa (Kimilili) received 200 @anc_party Kibra youth leaders into Team-Mariga-4-Kibra. Congratulations young people for choosing the better option,” read Khalwale’s Tweet.
Jubilee’s raid on ANC comes a month later after Owalo received a major boost when a section of elders from the Luo community pledged to rally behind him in the upcoming November 7 by-election.
While confirming the support, Owalo, who served as campaign manager for ODM party leader Raila Odinga in the 2013 presidential polls, said the elders had pledged support him since he has been helping them to improve their welfare.
However, Owalo has recently been undergoing a myriad of challenges. On Sunday, ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi was stoned by rowdy youth together with his candidate Eliud Owallo while on a campaign trail in Kibra.
The rowdy youth approached the ANC leader’s vehicle from the back and started throwing stones at Mr. Mudavadi who was drumming up support for his party’s candidate, Eliud Owalo, at Kamukunji grounds, forcing him to cut short his address.
The police were forced to use tear gas and fire live bullets to disperse the youth, who were charging at ANC supporters, spoiling for a fight.
In Kibra a while ago with @KBonimtetezi and @RealJaguarKenya pic.twitter.com/F4guU4OivP
— Didmus Barasa – OGW (@DidmusWaBarasa) October 29, 2019
Despite the incident, Owalo together with Mudavadi later continued with their campaigns. Kibra constituency seat was left vacant after the death of then Kibra MP Ken Okoth who was battling colon cancer.
The race has already attracted a total of 24 aspirants with political analysts narrowing down to a fierce competition bidding three candidates; Bernard Okoth of ODM, Macdonald Mariga of Jubilee and Eliud Owalo of ANC.
Bonny Khalwale and Jaguar are in Kibra campaigning for Mariga on the ground while ODM keyboard warriors lead by Etale are here reminding us what Ruto said on Sunday.
Victory haijui bedroom ya mtu!.
— ArapKoech. (@roanbirgen) October 29, 2019