This archive report was first published on 7 November 2019.
On Thursday, November 7, 2019, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga cast his vote in the Kibra by-election, accompanied by his daughter Rosemary and received by National Assembly Minority Chief-Whip Junet Mohammed.
After casting his vote, Raila urged those who had not voted to come out and exercise their democratic right, saying, 'I urge those who have not voted to come out from their residences and vote today (Thursday).
His statement was in response to scathing attacks from opponents, including Deputy President William Ruto and ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi.
DP Ruto had claimed that ODM no longer had a hold on Kibra, citing a lack of development in the constituency. He said, 'The truth of the matter is that Raila never developed and empowered the people of Kibra when he was an MP. The projects he failed to deliver in all those years have been done by Jubilee in these few years. So there is a problem in that bedroom. Things are not good for 'Baba' in Kibra.'
However, Raila maintained that ODM was still a force to be reckoned with in Kibra, saying, 'We are in our bedroom and I want to urge our people to protect our bedroom against infiltration by strangers and outsiders.'
On his part, Mudavadi urged voters to vote wisely and maintain peace, adding that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) should ensure a free and fair election.
He said, 'Kibra is not Raila Odinga's political bedroom. Kibra cannot be anyone's doormat as is being suggested. Nor is it anyone's private property, their house or their bedroom.'
Despite the tensions, voting in Kibra proceeded peacefully, with many constituents turning out to cast their ballots.
