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| Jubilee party Secretary General Raphael Tuju. |
BY
ANDREW MUTEMI
The ruling Jubilee party has announced its intention
to have a candidate in the city mini-polls slated for late this year.
Secretary General Raphael Tuju on Monday called on
party members interested in contesting for the Kibra constituency post to apply
to the party's National Elections Board (NEB).
Through a statement Mr Tuju said following the party
analysis and consultations the Uhuru Kenyatta led political outfit confirmed
that it was competitive enough to field a candidate in the Kibra by-election.
"It is noteworthy that the neighboring Lang'ata
constituency was won by Jubilee party candidate contrary to conventional political
analysis", the statement by Mr Tuju read in part.
He asked jubilee aspirants to apply for the party
ticket adding that the conditions and timeline will be in accordance to the NEB
provisions.
The by-election which will be held on November 7 has
so far attracted 26 contestants who are seeking the seat on the perceived
dominant party in the area - the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
The opposition chief Raila Odinga-led party has said
it will hold its primaries on August 31 to pick a front runner. Speaking while
he accompanied the the contestants for a political rally in the constituency on Sunday Mr Odinga said the party will vet the
candidates before giving them a nod to campaign ahead of the primaries.
It's now clear that whoever will be picked by the
opposition party will square it out with the Jubilee candidate and Musalia
Mudavadi's ANC party which is reported to be touting former Raila man Eliud
Owalo to fly its flag.
Now, all the eyes will be focused on the Jubilee top
brass and especially President Kenyatta to see whether he will lead an
onslaught against his newly found political blossom friend Odinga following the
infamous handshake truce. The duo's parties have since the political ceasefire
avoided fielding candidates for the same seats in the already concluded
by-elections in Nairobi,Siaya and Wajir parliamentary posts.
The Kibra seat fell vacant following the death of
the area MP Ken Okoth who succumbed to cancer last month. Okoth was serving his
second term on an ODM ticket.
MWINGI TIMES for timely and authoritative news.
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