The Jubilee Party and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) are pointing accusing fingers at each other for election malpractices during the Kibra byelection.
On Saturday, Deputy President William Ruto in a series of tweets accused the ODM Party of relying on violence to win in Kibra. He demanded that ODM Leader Raila Odinga “renounce the culture of violence”.
“As Kenyans, we demand that Tinga/his party unconditionally, unequivocally and publicly renounce the culture of violence, chaos, terror and gangsterism their signature modus operandi as witnessed in Kibra,” Ruto said.
Earlier, the DP while criticising a Saturday story published by the Star on how ‘Raila planted spies in the former Kibra campaign team’ claimed the only strategy that ODM used in the byelection is violence.
“The only strategy and structure Tinga’s party had which largely succeeded was, violence, chaos, mayhem and terror meted out by organized baba’s militia the same instruments used by terrorists organizations including outlawed groups,” he said.
The ONLY strategy and structure Tinga’s party had which largely succeeded was,violence, chaos,mayhem & terror meted out by organized baba’s militia the same instruments used by terrorists organizations including outlawed groups. How sad they have learnt nothing from handshake! pic.twitter.com/5jQ1vhQpf1
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) November 9, 2019
Ruto lamented that Raila and ODM “have learnt nothing from handshake”.
Equally, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria on Saturday condemned the chaotic scenes witnessed in Kibra on Thursday.
“I am still in shock that Kenyans are making fun of the violence meted upon Boni Khalwale and Didimus Baraza in Kibra. It is public knowledge that I was NOT supporting McDonald Mariga but we should give everyone a chance to campaign freely anywhere” he said.
Kuria called out Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati, who was seen in a video that has been widely shared on social media, ordering youths to attack his Kimilili counterpart Didmus Barasa.
“Simba Arati ordering goons to beat Didimus Baraza infront of cameras is despicable” he said adding that the violence that happened in “handshake bedroom speaks volume about the ‘Building Battalions Initiative’.
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On the other hand, ODM MPs, on Saturday, called for a probe on the amount of money spent by the Jubilee Party in the Kibra by-election.
Gideon Ochanda (Bondo) Millie Odhiambo (Mbita) and Eve Obara (Kabondo Kapisul) claimed Ruto violated election laws by using his official residence in Karen to drum up support for Mariga.
Kasipul Kabondo MP alleged that the DP dished money and food to Kibra residents in Karen in the bid to influence them to vote for Mariga.
She said, “What we saw in kibra was use of a lot of money just for one seat, we must reign on this as a country, we must also know the source of this money,”
Ochanda claimed that voters who were hosted by the Ruto in DP’s in Karen were given money and food as bribes.