As the battle for the Msambweni by election seat gather momentum, small parties and independent candidates are also on the prowl trying to outwit the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) which has staged the by-election as a one easy go for the Raila Odinga led political party.
No daggers have been left as the December date narrows down and little time remaining for the candidates to ask for votes from the people of Msambweni.
The Msambweni seat in Kwale County fell vacant following the death of legislator Suleiman Dori in March this year. He died at the Aga Khan Hospital in Mombasa where he was receiving treatment for cancer.
Since his death, politicians have slowly been silently campaigning until recently when the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announced that the by-election will be conducted in December.
The seat has so far attracted six candidates who are Omar Boga(ODM), Shee Abdulrahman (Wiper),Bashir Kilalo(Kadu Asili),Feisal Abdallah(Independent), Sharlet Mariam Akinyi (Independent) and Mohammed Mwakaonje (United Green Movement Party).
According to Kwale ODM chairman Hassan Mwanyoha, the party is keen to win the seat
“We are campaigning on a clear target of winning this seat because it belongs to us as ODM and that is what will happen,” he said.
Kadu Asili party leader Gerald Iha Thoya and his Deputy Party leader Daniel Mangi said they will camp in Msambweni to campaign for their candidate Bashir Kilalo.
“It is not about a big political party but rather a person who will look at addressing the needs of the people of Msambweni. As Kadu Asili, we shall pitch tent in Kwale and campaign for our candidate who is conversant with the issues in Msambweni. ODM will have a run for their money.
It will not be a walk in the park because our candidate campaigns on the ideals of our party manifesto which calls for the development of the Coast region,” said Mr Thoya.
Mr Boga a former Gombato/Bongwe MCA won the ticket after he floored ODM Kwale Vice-chair Nicholas Zani in what was dubbed as do or die primaries.
ODM has termed the Parliamentary by-election as a contest pitting Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and Deputy President William Ruto who is silently supporting an independent candidate Feisal Bader whom he recently paraded in his Karen home in Nairobi after Jubilee Party declined to field a candidate in the by-election.
Jubilee Vice-Chairman David Murathe has insisted that the party will back the ODM candidate.
“For us, we will support the ODM candidate so let them continue with their defiance against the party leader and the position of the party,” Mr Murathe said.
