By Robert Ochoro,
A group of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party supporters have pledged to support Jubilee Party candidate, Zebedeo Opore, in the Bonchari mini-polls slated for May 18.
Led by Ian Simba, the group under the aegis of ODM Bonchari Supporters Network, said they are rallying behind the spirit of the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader, Raila Odinga.
Irked by the ODM party’s failure to conduct party primaries, Simba said that they were with the manner in which ODM top leaders settled on Pavel Oimeke as theeir candidate to fly the party’s flag in the by-election.
“Oimeke is barely three months as the party member. We want know whether due diligence was done before he was given the ticket,” Simba said, adding they will continue supporting Raila after the by-election.
Bonchari’s Maendeleo ya Wanawake chairperson, Divinah Nyamao, said Opore has a proven development, adding they will campaign for him to win the seat.
In a rejoinder, ODM Youth League chairman, Dennis Mosoti, dismissed the lobby, saying the members are unknown imposters.
“ We only have ODM Ministry, Youth and Women Leagues. What they did was wrong under ODM Act,” Mosoti told the Press at Suneka market.
He appealed to the group to apologise to the party, saying the late MP Oroo Oyioka was elected through Peoples Democratic Party, therefore, he was not a handshake candidate.
Mosoti said it was wrong for the group members to wear ODM T-shirts and claim to be party members supporting the Jubilee Party candidate.
Last week, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission ( IEBC) cleared thirteen Candidates to vie in the by-election: namely, Mary Otara (United Green Movement Party), Zebedeo Opore (Jubilee), Pavel Oimeke (ODM), Teresa Bitutu Oroo (United Democratic Alliance), Jonah Ondieki (The New Democrats), Jeremiah Atancha (Agano Party), Paul Matagaro ( Mwangaza Tu), Eric Oigo (National Reconstruction Alliance), Victor Omanwa (Party of Economic Democracy), Teresa Gesare (Maendeleo Chap Chap) and David Ogega (Social Congress), Mogaka (PPK) and Kevin Mosomi (Party of Democracy Unity).
