UHURUTO’S RIVALRY IN COAST

The race for the Msambweni parliamentary seat in Tuesday’s by-election is proving a tough test for the ruling Jubilee Party, with the leader, President Uhuru Kenyatta, and his deputy William Ruto supporting opposing candidates.

While Jubilee has no candidate in the race , the President seems to have endorsed the opposition candidate Omar Boga of ODM.

Dr Ruto, on the other hand, is rooting for independent candidate Feisal Bader.

President Kenyatta on Thursday met with Mr Boga in Mombasa, the clearest signal yet that he supports the Orange party candidate. ODM deputy party leader and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho also attended the meeting.

The potential locking of horns between the President and his deputy has reportedly informed Dr Ruto’s cancellation of a planned campaign for Mr Abdalla tomorrow.

A close ally of Mr Odinga told the Saturday Nation that Mr Boga met Mr Kenyatta courtesy of a phone call by Mr Odinga to the President.

“Our party leader made a phone call during a meeting and the President obliged to meet Mr Boga,” said a source close to Mr Odinga, but details of the discussions were scanty.

Political party leaders in the country have pitched tent in Msambweni to campaign for their respective candidates ahead of the mini poll.

ODM leader, Mr Odinga, has been campaigning for Mr Boga, while Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka is backing Shee Abdulrahman.

Dr Ruto’s allies, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa, Nyali MP Mohammed Ali and Former Mombasa Senator Hasan Omar, have camped in the constituency this week, preparing the ground for the DP’s rally but the Saturday Nation understands that President Kenyatta’s meeting with Mr Boga threw a spanner in the works.

“We are aware of the latest developments in regard to the President meeting ODM candidate and is likely Ruto won’t be coming to campaign,” said a source in the Bader campaign.

In September, the Jubilee Party announced that it was not fielding a candidate for the Msambweni by-election citing the Handshake deal between President Kenyatta and opposition leader Mr Odinga.

But Dr Ruto went on to support Mr Bader in spite of the party’s decision.

The President’s gesture has been interpreted as endorsing Mr Boga, while his deputy is throwing his weight behind Bader. The latest development has also dealt a blow to the Ruto camp who, through his allies, have been tirelessly campaigning for Bader. However the DP’s team is continuing with a spirited campaign to win the seat.

Governor Salim Mvurya is leading the campaigns for Mr Bader.

He has cried foul claiming that there was a plot by ODM to rig the mini poll in favour of Boga .

The county chief urged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to ensure the elections are free and fair.

“We are aware of plans by ODM to rig elections as they have been put on record saying the party must win the mini-poll and we want IEBC to conduct a free and a fair election,” he said.

On Thursday, Mr Odinga held meetings with grassroots leaders before he accompanied Mr Boga for vote-hunting in Kinondo and Ukunda wards.

Other candidates in the race are Independents Charles Bilali and Mansury Kumaka, Marere Wamwachai (National Vision Party), Hassan Mwakulonda (Party of Economic Democracy) and Khamis Mwakaonje (United Green Movement).

Sourced from nation.africa