This archive report was first published on 10 November 2019.
Published on November 10, 2019, the Kibra by-election was marred by allegations of violence and intimidation, with Deputy President William Ruto accusing the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) of using such tactics to win the election.
According to Ruto, the ODM's Vote Protection Unit, an amorphous group of Raila Odinga's supporters, was tasked to guard the votes of ODM candidate Bernard Okoth and to sniff out and deal with any cases of electoral malpractice.
However, the unit is claimed to have been under the command of Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati and his Embakasi East counterpart Babu Owino, who denied any involvement in violent activities.
Deputy President Ruto claimed that the ODM's Vote Protection Unit was responsible for intimidating and harassing politicians affiliated to the Tangatanga movement, including MPs Nelson Koech, Aaron Cheruiyot, Didmus Barasa, Vincent Musyoka Kawaya, Benjamin Washiali, and former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale.
He also accused the ODM party hierarchy of thriving in intimidation and violence, and called on them to offer an unqualified apology to Kenyans over the Kibra chaos.
Senator Susan Kihika accused Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i of failing to arrest those she accused of perpetuating the Kibra violence, while Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua faulted Dr Matiang'i for failing to order any arrests.
