Renowned blogger Robert Alai has jolted the public after endorsing Winnie Odinga to take over the Kibra parliamentary seat.
Although Winnie, who is former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's last born daughter, has not declared interest in the seat, Alai said he believed she was the best person who can steer development in the city constituency.
"I support Winnie Odinga for Kibra. I am serious!!! The others (hao wengine) can't help the constituency. Winnie can do much better. We disagree but on this, I support her," he posted on Twitter on Thursday.
The declaration shocked many since Alai has been Winnie's fiercest critic for a number of years now.
If Winnie decides to vie, she will most probably run on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party ticket.
The seat became vacant following the death of Ken Okoth who succumbed to cancer late last month.
However, the campaigns are yet to start since National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has not declared the seat vacant and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is yet to announce the by-election date.
ODM Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen said the opposition outfit is yet to find a favourite candidate for the seat and asked all those eyeing the party ticket to exercise patience.
“At the moment we don’t know if there is anybody who has declared interest because we have not invited applications,” Ong'wen told the Nation on Wednesday.
Embakasi MP Babu Owino has already initiated a debate on the by-election by proposing a member of the deceased MP's family to take over the seat.
"Probably one of the family members should be considered because Ken died a painful death and he died a performer," said the vocal politician.
Among those said to be eyeing the post include Okoth's two brothers Imran and Bobby, Eliud Owalo, Ketta Onyango, Elizabeth Ongoro and others.