Senate Minority Leader James Orengo has been blamed for ODM's loss in the Ugenya by-election, with a section of netizens accusing him of creating a wrong narrative against the party's major rival David Ochieng'.
Mr Ochieng', who had contested Chris Karan's victory, emerged victorious after garnering 18,730 votes against Karan's 14,530 votes in the closely contested race on Friday.
Mandated to lead campaigns after Raila Odinga exited due to his 'busy schedule', Orengo and his campaign team dismissed Mr Ochieng', who ran on MDG party, as a 'project' of DP William Ruto.
"James Orengo never even campaigned for his own seat but then he goes all out for Karan in Ugenya & guess what, he tells the people of Ugenya; Oh, Deputy President can be impeached. Am glad Christopher Karan lost. ODM must focus on what's important - The People & not @WilliamsRuto," wrote Yamo Katho.
"ODM went to Ugenya and Embakasi. They made William Ruto a campaign issue. Described their competitors as Ruto's Men. The voters have returned the verdict. Ruto any day over your empty rhetorics," said Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, in reference to Orengo's remarks that Ruto had sponsored Ochieng'.
However, some social media users have dismissed claims that Ruto may have 'silently' influenced the Ugenya by-elections, arguing that had Ochieng' mentioned Ruto's name, he would have lost the seat due to the latter's rivalry with Raila Odinga.
"If David Ochieng had mentioned William Ruto in the Ugenya campaigns; he would have lost. He will not mention his name either in his victory speech. Ascribing his victory to William Ruto is an act of desperation on the part of Tangatanga," said Say Africa.
Here are more reactions by Kenyans.