What Imran Okoth said Minutes after being declared Kibra MP-elect with 24,636 votes

On Friday, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officially declared Bernard Imran Okoth as the Mp-elect for Kibra Constituency, bringing to an end the hotly contested race.

Speaking minutes after being declared winner, Okoth expressed gratitude towards the people of Kibra for entrusting him to be their leader, promising to be a good agent of their vows in Parliament.

“Kwanza Kabisa nataka nimshukuru Mwenyezi mungu, kwa ushindi ambao ametupa kama wana Kibra. Pili nataka kumshukuru kinara wa chama chetu, Mheshimiwa Raila Amollo Odinga kwa kuweza kusimama na mimi kwa uchaguzi huu kwa hali na mali na kuweza kupata ushindi. Vile Vile nataka niwarushie shukurani kwa viongozi wote wa mirengo yote ambao wamekuwa wamesimama na mimi katika huu uchaguzi. Vile vile wamesimama na mimi kwa masaa ishirini na nne, wakiwa wameketi hapa,” said Okoth.

fb/'Bedroom secured' 'Imran' Okoth wins in Kibra (1) AFP

Voter Bribery

He also saluted Kibra voters for not being swayed by money that had been dished out by his opponents.

“Kwa wana Kibra, nataka niwarudishie shukrani sana kwa maana mumeonyesha kuwa pesa haiwezi kununua uongozi, Kwamba hata kama tuko maskini Kibra, mnajua ni nini mnaweza taka. Na mimi ahadi yangu ni kwamba, nitawafanyia kazi na roho yangu yote, bila mapendeleo, bila ufisadi na bila ubaguzi. Kwa Team Yangu, Team Imran, nawashukuru sana kwa kusimama na mimi, tumepitia mengi, tumepigwa na jua pale nje, Vumbi, Mvua ikatunyeshea, lakini tuliweka macho yetu mbele kuona tunapata ushindi leo. Vile Vile nataka niwarudishie shukran jamii yangu, familia yangu, ambao walisimama na mimi, mama yangu mzazi na ndungu zangu"

"Ajenda yangu sasa ni kwenda Bunge, kuapishwa, na kuanza kazi rasmi, na kuwafanyia wananchi wa Kibra. Kwa wale wote waliogombea kiti hiki, tulikuwa 24, hii ilikuwa mashindano, na mashindano bila washindani wengi si mashindano. Mimi nawambia haikuwa tupate chuki bali sisi ni wamoja. Nataka kuwarai tuweze kuungana mikono tuwafanyie wana Kibra kazi. Njoo tufanye kazi tupeke Kibra Mbele," added Imran Okoth.

Imran Okoth's message after being declared Kibra MP-elect Imran Okoth's message after being declared Kibra MP-elect Pulse Live Kenya

The handshake umbrella

Okoth further pointed out that he is glad to be the first MP to be elected under the handshake umbrella.

“Mimi nimekuwa the handshake candidate, ambapo niliungwa mkono na viongozi na vyama vingi hapa kibra. Na vile vile ile handshake ya Rais wetu Uhuru Kenyatta na Kinara wa ODM Raila Odinga walifanya, mimi kama mjumbe wa Kibra, nataka tuishi kwa Amani, ili tupeleke Kenya yetu mbele. Na mimi ajenda yangu kubwa nikiwa mtoto wa kwanza wa handshake, nikuwaleta pamoja. Asante sana, Mungu awabariki,” he added.

Okoth was declared the winner after garnering 24,636 votes, against 11,230 votes of Jubilee Party’s McDonald Mariga. Mariga conceded defeat assuring Imran his support whenever needed to make Kibra a better place.

Imran Okoth's message after being declared Kibra MP-elect Imran Okoth's message after being declared Kibra MP-elect Pulse Live Kenya

At third position was Eliud Owalo (ANC) with 5,275 votes followed by Khamisi Butichi (Ford Kenya) in fourth place with 260 votes.

Imran rose to the limelight when he declared his interest to run for the Kibra parliamentary seat, after his brother Ken Okoth, who previously held the seat, died of cancer in July.

He previously served as manager for the much-hailed Kibra CDF.