Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo has dismissed claims of violence from ODM party during the recently concluded Kibra constituency by-election.
In a bitterly contested mini-poll that was seen as a battle between ODM leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto, Bernard Okoth Imran of the Orange party carried the day after trouncing 23 others including McDonald Mariga of Jubilee Party who was his closest opponent.
However, in the aftermath of that election, political barbs continue to be traded with DP Ruto now accusing the Raila Odinga led party of using violence to win the seat, the claims which ODM' politicians have repeatedly denied.
While speaking during an interview on NTV, the Rarieda lawmaker said that what happened in Kibra was not violence but vote protection.
"There was no violence in Kibra. What we had was vote protection. This is because the people of Kibra were warned of massive vote-buying," he said.
Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa are among the Jubilee politicians who were roughed up on the by-election day by people believed to be ODM supporters for allegedly bribing voters.
DP Ruto has since asked former Prime Minister to apologise to Kibra residents over the violence.