The Orange Democratic Movement party is ready for for impending Kibra by-election, Director of Communication Philip Etale has declared.
ODM nominated Imran Okoth in the race to succeed his brother Ken Okoth who succumbed to cancer in July. IEBC has scheduled November 7th for the poll.
In a rather shocking move on Wednesday, President Uhuru Kenyatta endorsed McDonald Mariga as Jubilee candidate in the race.
Jubilee party had been divided over Mariga's candidature, with a number of MPs vowing to support ODM candidate Mr Imran Okoth, who was unveiled last week.
"The President wished Mr Mariga, who was accompanied by Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju, success in the contest and assured him of his full backing," State House tweeted.
But Mr Etale, a confidant of ODM leader Raila Odinga, says the Orange party is ready for the battle, adding that nothing will be taken for granted.
Further, he said, the ODM party shall ensure Mr Okoth wins the seat. He dismissed other candidates as 'boardroom'.
"Now we are more than ready for the Kibra contest. The battle line has been drawn and we are prepared for the battle. The People’s candidate vs very many boardroom candidates. ODM will retain the seat. Take it to the bank," he wrote.
Deputy President William Ruto is said to be behind Mariga's candidature and the Wednesday's node from President Uhuru Kenyatta is a huge win for him.
Other candidates in the much anticipated Kibra by-election race include Raila's former aide Eliud Owalo of ANC and Ramadhan Khamisi of Ford Kenya.