By-Election: Kibra voters to pick new legislator on November 7
By Anthony Mwangi, August 20, 2019
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has set November 7 as the date for the Kibra parliamentary by-election.
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi last Wednesday declared the seat vacant following the death of area MP Ken Okoth of the Orange Democratic Moveement (ODM), last month.
IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati gazetted the by election date last Friday paving way for campaigns by interested candidates.
By yesterday, 10 individuals had expressed intention to run for the position on the party’s ticket. The writ is issued 21 days after the death of an MP by the Speaker.
IEBC has to prepare for the by-election within three months of the issuance of the notice by the Speaker.
The battle for the ODM ticket, the dominant party in the constituency has also attracted former councillors and community activists based in Kibra. Among those said to be interested in the seat are Imran Okoth (brother to the late MP), Eliud Owalo, former Embakasi South MP Irshad Sumra, ODM secretary-general Edwin Sifuna and ODM youth leader Benson Musungu.
A source close to the party top leadership told People Daily that ODM was likely to pick Imran to complete the good work initiated by his late brother.