Amani National Congress (ANC) Kibra parliamentary hopeful Eliud Owalo stands a very good chance winning the race set for November 7, political analyst Dennis Anyonka has said.
Owalo has since kicked off a vigorous campaign in a bid to stand out in the crowded race and fill the vacancy left by Ken Okoth who succumbed to cancer in July.
Anyonka says that though he seems like an underdog, judging by the presence of more powerful candidates, the fact that Owalo has been in politics for long makes him a favourite.
Speaking on Monday, the commentator stated that being a former ODM member he has made the needed connections.
"He has a good chance. First, he has the connections, coming from ODM. He is not beginning from scratch (Owalo yuko na nafasi nzuri. One, yuko na connections kwa sababu ametoka ODM, sio eti anaanzia kutoka scratch)," he said.
The commentator made the remarks on Radio Maisha's Bunge La Maisha, Monday morning.
He also noted that the tribalism-based politics in Kenya will make it easier for Owalo to win, since he is running on a party associated with members of the Luhya community.
Considering that members of the community are deemed the majority in the constituency, he said, it's likely that he will scoop a majority of the vote, handing him a win.
"Secondly, Kibra and Kenyan politics are tribal, and he appears able to bring people together under the Luhya-based ANC party (Pili, sisa za Kibra na Kenya ni za kikabila. Anaonekana anaweza kuleta watu pamoja kupitia chama cha waluhya ambacho ni ANC)," he added.
He noted that Owalo's chances are very unlikely to be troubled by the presence of Jubilee Party candidate, also a Luhya, since members of the community identify more with ANC than Jubilee.