President Uhuru Kenyatta and NASA flag bearer Raila Odinga Photo/brostalk.com
President Uhuru Kenyatta and NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga have lost close allies who have decided to go solo in the August 8, election.
Most of them have faulted the poorly managed primaries and vowed to be on the ballot independently. Their decision has threatened Jubilee and NASA dominance in the affected areas because if they win, no one is sure if they will remain loyal to the parties that they believe rigged them out.
The Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung’u confirmed the alarming defections. She said that the defections are from MCAs to Governors.
“By closure of business on Friday, we had processed more than 1,500 letters and this figure could rise to over 2,000 since we are still receiving resignitions,” Ndung’u said as quoted by Standard.
Raila Odinga lost Funyula MP Paula Otwoma who will be on the ballot for the Busia Governorship as an independent candidate after losing to incumbent Sospeter Ojaamong’. His Nyamira counterpart James Gesami will also vie despite losing to John Nyagarama. Raila’s home city of Kisumu has sitting governor Jack Ranguma as a victim of nomination axe but has vowed to defend his seat.
President Uhuru lost his potential heir Peter Kenneth who was floored by Senator Mike Sonko. PK complained of rigging and might be an independent candidate come August 8.
Uhuru’s deputy William Ruto is another victim of the shambolic primaries. Governor Jackson Mandago will face the wealthy businessman Zedekiah Bundotich Kiprop alias Buzeki. The two will tilt the voting pattern if they are not advised not to shelve their bids.