The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party's decision to pull out of the Wajir West by-election could in the end turn out to be catastrophic.
The Raila Odinga led party should not have quit the by-election even if it was clear that its chances of winning was zero.
With the recent defeats in Embakasi South and Ugenya by-elections, Wajir West by-election would have played a perfect opportunity for the Orange party to redeem itself.
Instead of withdrawing, the Raila led party should have thrown in everything to ensure it wins the by-election.
The party’s decision to quit the by-election now puts it in a political quagmire in the eyes of its supporters especially with the focus on the 2022 general election.
Majority of Raila's supporters are likely to conclude that the party is losing popularity and withdrawing from the by-election is the worst mistake the Orange party has made.
ODM was likely to give Jubilee Party a run for its money in the April 25 by-election.
The party’s candidate (Mohamed Yusuf Elmi) would have also garnered majority sympathy votes on grounds that Jubilee candidate Ahmed Kolosh dumped the Orange party after his election was nullified.
On Tuesday, ODM shockingly withdrew from the race where IEBC has cleared five candidates to contest.
The Orange party said it arrived at the decision following consultations with top leadership of the Jubilee Party and it was in reciprocating to JP's recent decision not to field candidates in the concluded Ugenya and Embakasi South by-election.
ODM lost in the two by-elections.