Ruto, Raila teams hopeful of a win in Msambweni poll

Candidates for the Msambweni parliamentary by-election held a series of rallies as campaigns ended yesterday before the by-election slated for December 15.

Though there are eight contestants, the by-election seems to be a two-horse race pitting independent candidate Feisal Bader and ODM’s Omar Boga.

Other contenders are independents Charles Bilali and Mansury Kumaka.

There is also Marere Wamwachai (National Vision Party), Khamis Mwakaonje (United Green Movement), Hassan Mwakulonda (Party of Economic Democracy) and Wiper's Shee Abdulrahman.

Buying identity cards

Each of the candidate promised to solve the constituency's problems such as youth unemployment, crime, lack of proper amenities, lack of water and land historical injustices.

Bader enjoys the support of Deputy President William Ruto while Boga has the blessings of his party leader Raila Odinga.

A defeat for Boga would mean that the party has lost its stranglehold over a constituency it has controlled for almost a decade before the demise of MP Suleiman Dori.

The mini-poll has brought out the best and the ugly side of politics with claims of rigging, voter bribery and buying of identity cards.

From door-to-door campaigns and public forums, the race for Msambweni's at least 68,000 registered voters has been intense.

Team Boga led by Governor Hassan Joho ended their campaigns with a rally at Masai grounds after rallying residents at Kongo grounds.

Leadership

Joho and his team of governors and a host of MPs urged the people of Msambweni to focus on Boga whose leadership was tested after serving as MCA for Gombato/Bongwe.

"Boga is ahead of the pack and we will retain the seat because he has experience," he said.

While Team Bader led by Governor Salim Mvurya was at Bomani ground courting voters in last-minute rush to consolidate support.

Bader's team ended their campaigns at Nyumba Mbovu after losing battle over the Masai ground with their rivals.

While addressing voters at Bomani, Lunga Lunga MP Khatib Mwashetani, accompanied by several MPs, said the Tuesday poll has nothing to do with the popularisation of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) drive to amend the constitution.

BBI report

"We are electing a representative for Msambweni and time will come when we will make an informed decision on the BBI report," he said, urging voters to turnout in large numbers and elect Bader.

On Thursday, Mr Odinga while drumming up support for Mr Boga said the mini-poll will be a test for the report touted to solve myriad problems facing the country.

Former Mombasa senator Omar Hassan downplayed Boga's meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta, claiming it is Joho who took advantage of the Head of State to send a signal that he (Kenyatta) supports the ODM party candidate.

But he said Mr Boga was not endorsed by President Kenyatta.

"We have intelligence report that it was a scheme by Joho to use the President in favour of their candidate and bribe the voters but we want to tell him that Msambweni is locked under Bader," he said, adding that the President has no candidate in the poll.

Former Kakamega senator Boni Khalwale while speaking at Kinondo Primary said ODM is a dead party and will not win the mini-poll.

"ODM has lost many by-elections and we are sending them a warning that the seat belongs to Bader. We are only waiting for him to be sworn," he said.

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