Political rivalry between Deputy President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga could yet again escalate following thd outcome of Friday's by-elections at Embakasi South and Ugenya constituencies.
David Ochieng' of MDG beat Chris Karan of ODM by a margin of 4,000 votes while in Embakasi South, Julius Mawathe of Wiper had opened a wide gap between him and Irshad Sumra of ODM, handing the Orange party a huge defeat in the recent times.
In a video making rounds on social media, Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, a confidant of Raila Odinga, is heard warning Ugenya residents that the contest would be between Raila Odinga and William Ruto.
"On my way from JKIA, I met Kipchumba Murkomen and Aaron Cheruiyot. They told me that as ODM, we are wasting time in Ugenya. I was very shocked. They told me that Ruto had bankrolled the other candidate (Ochieng').
"This election will be between Raila and Ruto. A vote for Chris is a vote for Raila. A vote for the other guy (Ochieng') is a vote to William Ruto. Please do not embarrass Raila. Ensure you vote for Karan," he's heard saying.
In his last appearance at Siaya, Raila asked residents 'not to embarrass him because he was busy elsewhere', only letting Senate Minority Leader James Orengo lead the campaigns. Mr Ochieng' victory could make the Orange tram go back to drawing board.
While DP William Ruto did not make any physical appearance in both polls, his lieutenants have already claimed victory. Incidentally, Senators Murkomen and Cheruiyot have celebrated the two victories on social media.
"ODM went to Ugenya and Embakasi. They made William Ruto a campaign issue. Described their competitors as Ruto's men. The voters have returned the verdict. Ruto any day over your empty rhetorics," Cheruiyot wrote.
At Embakasi South constituency, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, on Tuesday termed Mawathe as 'Ruto project', claiming that he had been bankrolled using the 'Kimwarer and Arror dams loot'.
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