Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Director of Communications Philip Etale has accused blogger Robert Alai of spreading falsehoods that he was bribed by an aspirant in the party nominations exercise for Kibra parliamentary by-election.
Etale claimed Alai was behind rumours that he received a bribe to rig in Bernard Okoth alias Imran who was declared as party's candidate during Saturday's primaries.
A screenshot of a WhatsApp conversation allegedly between Etale and Imran has been making rounds on social media showing that the communications specialist received a bribe of Sh2 million from the aspirant.
In an emotional tweet on Wednesday, Etale accused the blogger of manufacturing the rumours and said if there would be any threat on his life Alai will never find peace.
"Robert Alai, you have spoiled my name even when deep in your heart you knew whatever you were posting on your blog was a lie. You have known me for years and you know my reputation. If I get lynched, my blood will forever haunt you. I swear by the Name of God. I swear," he posted.
In a rejoinder, the blogger dismissed the remarks saying he was out to expose what he termed as corruption in ODM and hit out at Etale for being 'insensitive to criticism'.
"Good morning my friend Philip. Imagine I don’t believe in such backward nonsense like hauntings. The corruption in ODM must stop. Again, it can’t be that ODM is the most insensitive to criticism while Raila went to prison for us to criticize people in public institutions openly," he replied.
However, in an exclusive interview on Radio Citizen, Imran denied bribing Etale noting that he has never had direct communication with him as portrayed in the alleged WhatsApp communication.
"I was not connected by Etale, I got the nominations without bribing. Speaking the truth I have never spoken one on one with Etale (Sikuunganishwa na Etale, hizi nominations nilipata bila kuhonga hata shilingi. Kusema ukweli, sijawahi kuongea moja kwa moja na Etale)" he said on Wednesday.