Wajir leaders claim DP William Ruto brokered deal to have ODM Wajir West candidate step down

Wajir county leaders have come out to suggest that Deputy President William Ruto is behind the drastic turn of events with the Wajir West by-election.

Further, the leaders claim that a late night meeting hosted by the DP cemented a deal with the ODM candidate who dropped out of the race and who also announced his defection during the meeting.

Contrary to a statement delivered by both the Jubilee and ODM parties, the leaders say that Dr Ruto convinced ODM's Wajir West by election candidate Prof. Mohamed Elmi to drop out with about two weeks left to voting day.

"After thorough negotiations, one candidate Prof Mohamed Yusuf Elmi, who was vying in ODM Party agreed to step down in favour of Jubilee Party Candidate.

ODM party leader Raila Odinga with Prof. Mohammed Yussuf Elmi who dropped out of the Wajir West by-election (Twitter) Pulse Live Kenya

"We as leaders from the region do not condone deceit and/or conmanship," their statement read in part.

2 more candidates in Wajir West by election drop out

Two more candidates have also dropped out of the race in favour of the Jubilee Party candidate Ahmed Kolosh.

The two - Labour Party of Kenya's Ali Noor Abdi and Agano Party's Abbas Nunow - were holed up in a meeting with DP Ruto on Wednesday afternoon before they announced their withdrawal.

"Today two candidates have agreed to step down in favour of the Jubilee candidate.

"This was done in further consultation with Jubilee Deputy Party Leader William Ruto, who is also the Deputy President.

"The decision had nothing to do with the ODM party or any of its functionaries, as some would allege," a statement by the leaders clarified.