This archive report was first published on 11 September 2019.
On September 10, 2019, Ann Thumbi, a Jubilee nominated Member of County Assembly (MCA), submitted McDonald Mariga's credentials to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for the Kibra by-election. In a surprising move, Thumbi seconded Mariga's candidature, raising questions about Mariga's strategists' decision to involve her in the campaign.
Thumbi's endorsement of Mariga has sparked controversy, given her complicated history with the Okoth family. In 2017, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko revealed that Okoth and Thumbi had a son, and he promised to ensure the legislator's family recognized the minor to prevent him from suffering.
Okoth passed away on August 3, 2019, after succumbing to colorectal cancer. His body was cremated at a private function, ending the debate on where to bury him and which method to use.
