This archive report was first published on 8 November 2019.
November 7, 2019, marked a significant day in Kenya's electoral history as the Kibra parliamentary seat went to the polls. Preliminary results from 80 out of 183 polling stations have revealed a clear leader in the Orange Democratic Movement's Imran Okoth.
With 11,947 votes, Okoth is well ahead of his closest rivals, Jubilee's McDonald Mariga, who has conceded defeat, and Amani National Congress's Eliud Owalo, who garnered 2,213 votes.
The contest had been considered a dry run for the 2022 General Election by Deputy President William Ruto, who is seeking to shore up his support base in ODM leader Raila Odinga's turf.
While Ruto has openly expressed interest in succeeding President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022, Odinga has not done so, saying it is still too early to start talking about 2022.
Earlier, ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna exuded confidence that the Orange Party's candidate would win the seat, stating, 'We have won the Kibra seat, as per our tally. We are only waiting for the official declaration of results and handing over of certificate to our candidate.'
Report by Collins Omulo and Cecil Odongo
