The calls by the Wiper party leadership for ODM to withdraw their candidature in the Embakasi South by-election are intensifying day in day out.
Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has more than once publicly told ODM to support Wiper party in the Embakasi South by-elections so as to embrace solidarity in the NASA coalition.
ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna has dismissed wiper’s calls for ODM to withdraw their candidate terming the move as political impunity.
“The seat was initially an ODM seat. The previous MP Irshad Sumra was an ODM MP and the Wiper MP Julius Mawathe’s election was nullified by the courts so ODM is just defending its seat, I want to make it clear here: the former MP of Embakasi South was elected on an ODM ticket, the Wiper MP was not validly elected so there is no need of him defending the seat since he will be forcing himself to the people,” said Sifuna.
Speaking live on Radio Citizen morning show this Thursday, Sifuna insisted that the Embakasi South seat does not belong to anyone or any political party and it is the electorate to decide who they want to be their duly elected legislator.
He added that Embakasi South is not a village but a big cosmopolitan area with people from all tribes.
The sentiments come amid piling pressure to ODM from the wiper party leadership pertaining to the Embakasi South by-elections.
"As ODM, we have stood with Wiper on several occasions so we are not imposing our candidate to the Embakasi South people, the election will definitely be free and fare and they will elect who they want.
"The Jubilee party decided not to field a candidate in the election because they embrace the handshake and the handshake was between ODM and Jubilee meaning they support ODM to grab the seat,” he added.
The fearless Sifuna also pleaded with wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka to stop lowering his dignity by being ‘too loyal’ to president Uhuru Kenyatta.