This archive report was first published on 13 August 2019.
On August 13, 2019, Eliud Owalo, a former aide to Raila Odinga, officially resigned as a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Owalo, a management consultant, had previously served as ODM's strategist and Raila's aide in the 2013 General Elections.
He also played a role in NASA's secretariat in the run-up to the 2017 election.
In a letter to ODM's Secretary General and the Registrar of Political Parties, Owalo stated that his resignation should be followed by an instant removal of his name from the ODM Party Membership Register.
'It is with great regret that I write to inform you that I have with immediate effect relinquished my membership of the ODM Party,' Owalo wrote in his letter.
He cited a lack of convergence between his political ideology and the ODM party's values as the reason for his resignation.
Owalo's move comes amid speculation that he will be contesting in the forthcoming by-election for the Kibra constituency after the death of former MP Ken Okoth.
He has previously contested for the same position in the 2013 elections and in the 2017 nominations, but was unsuccessful.
Owalo blamed Raila for his loss in the Kibra MP nominations, accusing him of having 'parochial political interests' in the area.
'I squarely blame Raila for mischievously instigating the selection of the ODM parliamentary candidate for Kibra,' Owalo said.
He also predicted Raila's own loss to President Uhuru Kenyatta in the August 8 general election.
