Nominated MP Maina Kamanda meets Raila Odinga & Endorses ODM 's Candidate Imran Okoth

Vocal Jubilee MP meets Raila after Uhuru endorsed Mariga

Mumbi Mutuko

September 19, 2019 12:05 PM

Kibra becomes hot seat

AU envoy Raila Odinga

Nominated Member of Parliament Maina Kamanda met members of ODM on Thursday a day after President Uhuru Kenyatta endorsed footballer McDonald Mariga.

Mr Kamanda held a meeting with ODM leader Raila Odinga and later addressed journalists where he announced his support for Imran Okoth for the Kibra parliamentary seat.

“I am here in my personal capacity...The Handshake brought us harmony and peace in the country," the nominated MP said.

"As Jubilee, we have a candidate but as a person, I will be with the ODM candidate…I am here to stand with the candidate nominated by ODM Imran Okoth," he added.

Nominated Member of Parliament Maina Kamanda Pulse Live Kenya

Mr Kamanda said that he would support Imran since his late brother Ken Okoth was his close friend.

Uhuru endorses Mariga

Addressing the press, Mr Odinga thanked Mr Kamanda for supporting Imran Okoth and asked Kibra residents to hold a peaceful by-election.

"We would like to see that the campaign in Kibra is done in a very peaceful and friendly atmosphere. We don't want any kind of violence in this campaign," Raila stated.

The endorsement by Mr Kamanda comes barely a day after President Kenyatta met Mariga who is the Jubilee Party candidate in the battle for the Kibra parliamentary seat.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and DP William Ruto at State House, Nairobi when they met Jubilee Party candidate for the forthcoming Kibra by-election Mcdonald Mariga Pulse Live Kenya

President Kenyatta endorsed Mariga's candidature in the Kibra by-election in a surprise move that now complicates the contest.

Mariga's entry into the race caused major infighting within the Jubilee Party amid accusations that his candidature was being pushed by Deputy President William Ruto.

Mumbi Mutuko