This archive report was first published on 8 November 2019.
Khalwale Blames ODM Goons for Kibra By-Election Poor Turnout ¶
Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has accused Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) goons of intimidating voters in the Kibra by-election, leading to a poor turnout.
According to Khalwale, McDonald Mariga's performance in the by-election shows that it was a hotly contested poll and a formidable opponent for ODM candidate Imran Okoth.
On Twitter, Khalwale congratulated Mariga on his result, saying: 'Congratulations Mariga for this result. Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula polled 5,275 and 260 votes respectively through their candidates. Thousands of female voters were scared off by those ODM party goons. You are the winner!'
Mariga, who was fronted by Jubilee party, came in second with 11,230 votes while Eliud Owalo (ANC) and Khamisi Butichi (Ford Kenya) came in third and fourth places respectively.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announced Okoth as the winner of the by-election after he garnered 24,636 votes.
However, Khalwale's claims of ODM goons intimidating voters have been met with criticism, with some accusing him of being involved in the intimidation.
Dr. Thuranira Kaugiria, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union (KMPDU) secretary general for Nairobi, was among those who called out Khalwale, saying: 'Pictures are disheartening and sad. This man was once a kingpin of a whole community, he's a medical doctor, the immediate former Senator of Kakamega County. Who or what reduced Boni Khalwale to this?'
Khalwale defected to the Jubilee party from Ford Kenya on May 17, 2019.
During a meeting with Deputy President William Ruto, Khalwale urged the Luhya community to abandon the opposition, saying it is only the Jubilee party that can change the fortunes of Western Kenya.
