Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Director of Communications Philip Etale has defended party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna over his controversial remarks that the Kibra constituency is the party's bedroom.
Sifuna made the remarks in Kibra on Tuesday, when himself and fellow ODM members and officials kicked off campaigns for the party's candidate in the race to fill the vacant Kibra parliamentary seat Imran Okoth.
Speaking on Wednesday, Etale noted that the SG did not intend to demean Kibra residents, stating that he only intended the makenit clear that the constituency remains an ODM stronghold and will remain to be so.
"Sifuna aliposema eti Kibra ni chumba cha ODM cha kulala hakumaanisha eti watu wa pale ni vitanda. Alimaanisha ile ni ngome ya ODM na itabaki vilevile," he said when he was panelist in an interview on Radio Jambo, Wednesday night.
This translates to; " When Sifuna referred to Kibra as the ODM bedroom he never meant that the people there are beds. He meant that it is an ODM stronghold and will remain that way."
He added that the party will proceed to beat all the others challenging its bid to recapture the seat initially held by the late Ken Okoth, including the ruling Jubilee Party which he said is ailing.
He claimed that the ruling party, which has fronted soccer star McDonald Mariga as its candidate, is at the Intensive Care Unit, inr wferemce to its internal wrangles, and cannot therefore beat the strong and vibrant ODM.
"We won't fight a party in the ICU. People of Kibra know where they will place their votes and who they will elect (Sisi hatutapigana na Chama kilicho ICU. Watu wa Kibra wanajua watapiga kura yao wapi na watamchagua nani)," he added.