Thirdway Alliance Party leader Dr Ekuru Aukot has spoken for the first time on claims that he pocketed billions of shillings as bribe from Jubilee Party to be on the ballot for repeat polls, after Nasa’s Raila Odinga exited.

Despite a High Court ruling which allowed the scholar on the ballot for the repeat polls on October 26, National Super Alliance leaning lawmakers blasted Dr Aukot for taking a bribe to neutralize what would have been a single-candidate repeat poll.

“I do not belong to NASA or ODM to have resigned after Raila Odinga withdraw from the race. I followed the High Court order which directed IEBC to include my name on the ballot,” Aukot said, days after he declared that he is the official Opposition leader.

Dr Aukot, who prior to his being allowed on the ballot by the High Court ruling, had cordial engagements with Mr Odinga, changed his tune after “the IEBC assured that the repeat election will be free and fair,” a contention Mr Odinga had rubbished.

“The IEBC explained to us how they would conduct the voting, tallying and the result's transition process and we were happy,” Dr Aukot said during an interview with a local radio station.

Dr Aukot revealed that he participated in the election as a way to provide a variety of choices of leaderships models to Kenyans for them to choose from.

He contained that Mr Odinga’s decision to quit the race was within the dictates of the constitution and rights within his reach.

In addition to sentiments by a section of Nasa lawmakers, there has been numerous message on social media to effect that Dr Aukot became a billionaire after he received a bribe from President Uhuru Kenyatta led Jubilee party to “sanitise the repeat polls.”

In a rejoinder, however, Dr Aukot argued that no one could stop or influence his decision to take part poll, rubbishing possibilities of having received a kickback from Mr Kenyatta’s team.

“After Raila pulled out of the fresh elections, Thirdway Alliance is the official opposition,” he said.