ODM director of communications Phillip Etale has responded after ANC candidate in Kibra parliamentary race Eliud Owalo launched a scathing attack on Imran Okoth.
Speaking at Lindi PAG church on Sunday, Owalo accused Imran of nepotism having accepted to work as Kibra National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) manager during the tenure of his brother Ken Okoth.
“Why should you bring in your wife and brother? It is the people of Kibra who should sit on the board, not relatives," said Owalo, who served as ODM leader Raila Odinga campaign manager in the 2013 presidential elections
Reacting to the sentiments, Etale defended Imran saying he was qualified for the job, adding being Ken's brother was a non-issue.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, he praised the ODM candidate for rising to the occasion when Ken was incapacitated and travelled abroad for treatment, observing there was no project which stalled.
Etale asked those raising the issue to publicly disclose any report by the Auditor General that states financial misappropriation by the Kibra NG-CDF during his tenure.
"Imran's opponents are just scared because of his good record. The success of Ken's projects was as a result of Imran's determination to have his brother achieve his election pledges to the people of Kibra."
"And by the way, when everyone here was praising Kibra Constituency as a centre of excellence in terms of development and use of CDF money, knowing that Imran was part of the CDF management in Kibra, did you ever raise the queries?" Etale posed.
The ODM spokesman said Imran was the best-suited person to take over from Ken and exuded confidence he will emerge victorious.
"He stood firm, made sure every single penny was expended rightly on intended projects. He is definitely the leader Kibra people deserve," he added.