This archive report was first published on 28 September 2019.
On Friday, September 27, 2019, Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Ford-Kenya counterpart Moses Wetang'ula announced their decision to work together in the Kibra by-election, a move that will likely give the ODM candidate, Imran Okoth, fresh headaches.
The resolve to gang up against the ODM candidate signals the deteriorating relations between Orange party leader Raila Odinga and his allies in the 2017 polls.
Mr. Musyoka announced that his party would support Ford-Kenya candidate Khamisi Butichi, citing Ford-Kenya's decision not to field a candidate in the Embakasi South by-election this year as the reason for his move.
“Ford-Kenya and its leadership stood by our candidate in the Embakasi by-election, and we cannot take it for granted. My brotherhood with Senator Wetang'ula started in the 1980s when I joined politics,” Mr. Musyoka said.
Others in the race include footballer McDonald Mariga (Jubilee) and Eliud Owalo of Amani National Congress (ANC).
The two parties agreed to have Mr. Butichi officially endorsed at a later date, with the Ford-Kenya brigade expected to attend a pro-Wiper event in Athi-River on Sunday.
Mr. Wetang'ula expressed confidence that Mr. Butichi will emerge victorious in the November 7 by-election, stating, “Our candidate is the strongest. From all the information gathered, I can assure my brother Kalonzo that this Kibra seat is no more a dream, we will carry the day.”
