Political parties and their candidates have now gone back for tactical planning and mounting aggressive campaigns after the Independent and Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) cleared nine candidates to for the Msambweni byelections. – By Ramadhan Kambi
On Friday, all roads led to Msambweni in what is billed as a battle never witnessed in Msambweni, pitting the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Ruto allies fronting an independent candidate.
Among those who were cleared by IEBC included four independents and five candidates sponsored by their political parties.
Sharlet Mariam Akinyi, Mansury Kumaka, Charles Bilali and Feisal Bader who is supported by Deputy President William Ruto are the independents candidates cleared by commission.
The DP allies have all been on the prowl wooing voters to vote for Mr Bader while ODM Deputy Party leader Hassan Joho has been leading an ODM brigade to make sure that Omar Boga wins the seat.
Shee Abdulrahman (Wiper) Omar Boga (ODM), Ali Hassan Mwakulonda (Party of Economic Democracy), Marere Wamwachai (National Vision Party) and Khamis Mwakaonje (United Green Movement) were also cleared.
On Friday officials and supporters coloured the streets leading to the IEBC offices to present their nomination papers.
ODM led by Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho held their campaigns for their candidate at Sawa Sawa grounds where they unanimously endorsed their candidate Mr Boga.
“I want to make it clear as people are spreading propaganda. Before his death Dori met our party leader Raila Odinga and asked for forgiveness,” he said.
The Mombasa Governor promised a heavy loaded campaign which will include a door to door campaign.
“There is no need for you Baba (Raila Odinga) to come to Msambweni because with me and the team here, we are winning this seat, the Governor said.
Joho was in the company of Senators Orengo (Siaya) Issa Juma Boy (Kwale) MPs Ken Chonga (Kilifi South) Teddy Mwambire (Ganze) Imran Okoth (Kibra), Junet Mohammed (Suna East) Abdulswammad Nassir (Mvita), Badi Twalib (Jomvu) William Kamote (Rabai) Mishi Mboko (Likoni) and Kwale Woman Representative Zuleikha Hassan among others.
On Thursday Ruto’s allies led by former Senators Johnstone Muthama, Boni Khalwale and Hassan Omar went to the same ground to drum support for Mr Bader.
They were accompanied by Didmus Baraza (Kimilili), Benjamin Tayari (Kinango), Khatib Mwashetani (Lunga Lunga), nominated Senators Christine Zawadi (Kilifi) and Senator Falhadha Iman (Garissa) among other leaders.
Wiper national chairman Ali Mwakere has also been crisscrossing the constituency seeking votes for their candidate.
Mr Bader who has promised the residents that he will take on Mr Dori’s development projects to a higher level urged his opponents and residents to embrace development politics as opposed to divisive politics.
“We want peace in the constituency as we conduct our campaigns because the by-election will come and go,” he said, adding that he will transform the lives of the locals.
