The Orange Democratic Movement Party (ODM) has suffered a major setback after former Wajir West MP Mohamed Kolosh resigned from the party.
Kolosh lost his seat after the Supreme Court in January nullified his election on grounds that he was not validly elected.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had announced on Monday that the Wajir West constituency by-election will be held on April, 25 and Kolosh was expected to contest.
ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna confirmed that Kolosh had quit ODM following the Supreme Court's ruling.
Speaking to Capital FM, Sifuna said that Kolosh had submitted his resignation letter despite declaring that he would vie to reclaim his seat.
“Kolosh has submitted his resignation letter to ODM Party. He resigned from the party a week ago after the Supreme Court’s ruling,” said Sifuna.
ODM Director of Elections Junet Mohamed on his Twitter account said the Party will select another candidate to contest for the seat before the deadline set by IEBC.
Junet on Thursday said that the party had chosen Prof. Mohammed Yussuf Elmi to replace Kolosh.
“The ODM party to field Prof. Mohammed Yussuf Elmi in the Wajir West by-election. We look forward to welcoming Prof. to the National Assembly of Kenya. #MbelePamoja, ” said Junet on Twitter.
Kolosh lost his seat after KANU’s Abdirahman Ibrahim Mohamed moved to court to challenge his election as Wajir West MP.