The race for Kibra Member of Parliament seat has already began to take shape.
After an initial scare, footballer McDonald Mariga was cleared to run, giving ODM's Imran Okoth a formidable challenger.
The two are the front-runners to succeed the late Ken Okoth. They have bagged the support of political heavyweights from their parties and it promises to be a bruising battle.
The campaigners and maligners of each party have taken their positions firing salvos either with the aim of winning support or thoroughly discrediting their opponents.
However, methinks, McDonald Mariga’s candidature is unlikely to win the election, barring external forces or interferences.
This is why:
The Ken Okoth factor
The late Ken Okoth displayed exemplary leadership during his reign brutally cut short by cancer. As a brother to the late Okoth, Imran is privy to the needs of the people, having been the CDF chairman. Also, in Kenya’s political history, members of the family of the deceased leader are usually elected. A case in point is Mutula Kilonzo Sr being succeeded by his son Mutula Kilonzo Junior. It is highly likely that history will repeat itself. The ODM factor
Are the people of Kibra likely to switch their allegiance from Baba’s ODM? I do not think so. The people of Kibra have stood with Baba for a very long time, where he has gradually made it his stronghold being the place where he nurtured his political career.
The political novice in McDonald Mariga
The truth is Mariga is a political novice. His ardent critics have been driving the point that he is not even registered voter in Kibra, therefore unable to vote for himself. He lacks the brash style that is associated with politics, not on the level of Babu Owino though.